Method and compositions involving microRNA

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns methods and compositions for isolating, enriching, and/or labeling miRNA molecules and for preparing and using arrays or other detection techniques for miRNA analysis. Moreover, the present invention concerns methods and compositions for generating miRNA profiles and employing such profiles for therapeutic, diagnostic, and prognostic applications.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/890,398, filed Sep. 24, 2010, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/141,707, filed May 31, 2005, (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,888,010) which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/575,743 filed on May 28, 2004 and also of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/649,584 filed on Feb. 3, 2005. The entire text of each of the above-referenced disclosures is specifically incorporated herein by reference without disclaimer.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. §1.53(e), the Sequence Listing required under 37 C.F.R. §1.821(c) for SEQ ID NOs:1-899, as set forth below, is submitted on one compact disc (Copy 1), together with a duplicate thereof (Copy 2). Each of Copy 1 and Copy 2 were created on May 31, 2005, in PC format using MS Windows operating system. Copy 1 and Copy 2 each contain one 196 kb file entitled “AMBI097US.APP.txt.” The material contained on the compact disc is specifically incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology. More particularly, it concerns methods and compositions involving microRNA (miRNAs) molecules. Methods and compositions for isolating, labeling, preparing miRNAs for analysis or as a tool for analysis are described, such as miRNA arrays. In addition, there are applications for miRNAs in diagnostics, therapeutics, and prognostics.

2. Description of the Related Art

In 2001, several groups used a novel cloning method to isolate and identify a large variety of “micro RNAs” (miRNAs) from C. elegans, Drosophila, and humans (Lagos-Quintana et al., 2001; Lau et al., 2001; Lee and Ambros, 2001). Several hundreds of miRNAs have been identified in plants and animals—including humans—which do not appear to have endogenous siRNAs. Thus, while similar to siRNAs, miRNAs are nonetheless distinct.

miRNAs thus far observed have been approximately 21-22 nucleotides in length and they arise from longer precursors, which are transcribed from non-protein-encoding genes. See review of Carrington et al. (2003). The precursors form structures that fold back on each other in self-complementary regions; they are then processed by the nuclease Dicer in animals or DCL1 in plants. miRNA molecules interrupt translation through imprecise base-pairing with their targets.

The function of most miRNAs is not known. A number of miRNAs, however, seem to be involved in gene regulation. Some of these miRNAs, including lin-4 and let-7, inhibit protein synthesis by binding to partially complementary 3′ untranslated regions (3′ UTRs) of target mRNAs. Others, including the Scarecrow miRNA found in plants, function like siRNA and bind to perfectly complementary mRNA sequences to destroy the target transcript (Grishok et al., 2001).

Some miRNAs, such as lin-4, let-7, mir-14, mir-23, and bantam, have been shown to play critical roles in cell differentiation and tissue development (Ambros, 2003; Xu et al., 2003). Others are believed to have similarly important roles because of their differential spatial and temporal expression patterns.

Research on microRNAs (miRNAs) is increasing as scientists are beginning to appreciate the broad role that these molecules play in the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. The two best understood miRNAs, lin-4 and let-7, regulate developmental timing in C. elegans by regulating the translation of a family of key mRNAs (reviewed in Pasquinelli, 2002). Several hundred miRNAs have been identified in C. elegans, Drosophila, mouse, and humans. As would be expected for molecules that regulate gene expression, miRNA levels have been shown to vary between tissues and developmental states. Characterization of a number of miRNAs indicates that they influence a variety of processes, including early development (Reinhart, 2000), cell proliferation and cell death (Brennecke, 2003), and apoptosis and fat metabolism (Xu, 2003). In addition, one study shows a strong correlation between reduced expression of two miRNAs and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, providing a possible link between miRNAs and cancer (Calin, 2002). Although the field is still young, there is speculation that miRNAs could be as important as transcription factors in regulating gene expression in higher eukaryotes.

Several publications describe labeling miRNAs for analysis. These publications describe appending a radioactive phosphate at the 5′ end of the miRNA population using a polynucleotide kinase (Krichevsky, 2003) or a radiolabeled, single nucleotide at the 3′ end with RNA ligase (Dostie, 2003). For the purpose of using arrays to estimate the relative abundances of miRNAs in samples, these methods have two significant drawbacks: (1) only a single label is appended per miRNA, limiting the sensitivity that can be achieved and (2) the methods are compatible with radiolabeling only, which has disadvantages as compared to non-isotopic platforms for arrays. Furthermore, while RNA oligonucleotides have been labeled with non-isotopic labels (Martin et al., 1998), there is no evidence that small RNA molecules from a cell lysate can be effectively labeled in a similar manner after they have been enriched or isolated from the lysate.

Because microarrays are typically used to analyze messenger RNAs that are hundreds or thousands of nucleotides in length, we found that the 60-500mer probes typically used in microarrays were not compatible with miRNA analysis.

Therefore, there is a need for information about the function and activity of miRNAs, as well as for methods and compositions that can be used for their characterization and analysis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the inventors' studies regarding the manipulation of miRNA and the use of miRNAs to characterize their role and function in cells. It concerns methods and compositions for isolating miRNA, labeling it, preparing arrays directed to miRNAs (miRNA array or microarray), analyzing miRNAs using an array, and characterizing miRNAs for diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic applications.

The term “miRNA” is used according to its ordinary and plain meaning and refers to a microRNA molecule found in eukaryotes that is involved in RNA-based gene regulation. See, e.g., Carrington et al., 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The term will be used to refer to the RNA molecule processed from a precursor. Individual miRNAs have been identified and sequenced in different organisms, and they have been given names. Names of miRNAs and their sequences are provided herein. Additionally, other miRNAs are known to those of skill in the art and can be readily implemented in embodiments of the invention. The methods and compositions should not be limited to miRNAs identified in the application, as they are provided as examples, not necessarily as limitations of the invention.

Some embodiments of the invention concern methods for labeling miRNA. While it is contemplated that miRNA may be labeled with a single label, in many embodiments of the invention, multiple labels (may be the same or different labels) are attached to the miRNA. Consequently, methods for multi-labeling are specifically contemplated as part of the invention. In some embodiments, the miRNA to be labeled is contacted with an enzyme that catalyzes the addition of di- or tri-phosphate nucleotides to the 3′ end of the miRNA, effectively adding a nucleotide tail to the miRNA. The miRNA and enzyme will be incubated under conditions to allow catalysis by the enzyme to occur such that a reaction mixture (for tailing) is formed. Moreover, the reaction mixture will contain nucleotides that are labeled or unlabeled, which are added to the 3′ end of the miRNA by the enzyme to form a tailed miRNA molecule. The nucleotides may be DNA and/or RNA, though in some embodiments, the nucleotide is a ribonucleotide. The term “nucleotide” refers to both ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides, though it is specifically contemplated that any embodiment discussed in the context of “nucleotides” may be implemented specifically with “ribonucleotides” or “deoxyribonucleotides,” unless otherwise specified or limited. The nucleotide used in the reaction may be uridine, adenosine, guanosine, and/or cytosine, including any combination thereof. In specific embodiments, the nucleotide is uridine, which may or may not be modified as discussed below. The tail added to the miRNA is at least or at most 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360, 370, 380, 390, 400, 410, 420, 430, 440, 441, 450, 460, 470, 480, 490, 500 nucleotides or more in length, or any range derivable therein.

The nucleotides added to the miRNA may already have a label attached or the label may be attached after the miRNA is tailed. If unlabeled nucleotides are added to the miRNA, the method further comprises attaching a label to the tailed miRNA molecules. Thereafter, the multi-labeled miRNA molecules may be isolated, which means it may be separated from any or all of the following: unincorporated label or nucleotides, enzyme, nontailed miRNA, and other RNA. In the process of isolating the multi-labeled miRNA molecules, the molecules may be dried down for subsequent use.

miRNA used in the reaction may be obtained by a variety of methods and from a variety of sources. The miRNA may be obtained from a biological sample, such as a cell, tissue, or organ. It may be isolated from a biological sample that contains other RNA molecules as well, such as mRNA, tRNA, and/or rRNA. In certain instances, total RNA is first isolated from the sample and then the miRNA is separated from the other RNA, thereby enriching for miRNA. In some embodiments, the miRNA has been isolated away from other RNA to enrich for the miRNA, such that the miRNA substantially pure, meaning it is at least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% pure or more, but less than 100% pure, with respect to other RNA molecules. Alternatively, enrichment of miRNA may be expressed in terms of fold-enrichment. In certain embodiments, miRNA is enriched by about, at least about, or at most about 5×, 10×, 20×, 30×, 40×, 50×, 60×, 70×, 80×, 90×, 100×, 110×, 120×, 130×, 140×, 150×, 160×, 170×, 180×, 190×, 200×, 210×, 220×, 230×, 240×, 250×, 260×, 270×, 280×, 290×, 300×, 310×, 320×, 330×, 340×, 350×, 360×, 370×, 380×, 390×, 400×, 410×, 420×, 430×, 440×, 450×, 460×, 470×, 480×, 490×, 500×, 600×, 700×, 800×, 900×, 1000×, 1100×, 1200×, 1300×, 1400×, 1500×, 1600×, 1700×, 1800×, 1900×, 2000×, 3000×, 4000×, 5000×, 6000×, 7000×, 8000×, 9000×, 10,000× or more, or any range derivable therein, with respect to the concentration of miRNA in an RNA isolate or the total RNA in the sample.

miRNA can be separated from other RNA molecules using methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In some embodiments, miRNA are separated from other RNA molecules using chromatography. Gel chromatography can be implemented to isolate miRNA molecules. In certain embodiments, gel chromatography can be performed using a polyacrylamide gel and tube electrophoresis.

The biological sample may be from any organism that has endogenous miRNA. Organisms include, but should not be limited to, arthopods (Drosophila melanogaster); nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans and Caenorhabditis briggsae); vertebrates (homo sapiens, mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus); plants (Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa), all of which have miRNA that has been sequenced. See the miRNA Registry on the world wide web at sanger.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rfam/mirna/browse.pl. Alternatively, miRNA may be recombinant, such that it is obtained from a cell-free system or reaction mixture or from a recombinant host cell, which may or may not have endogenous miRNA. Furthermore, miRNA may be evaluated in samples that were previously fixed. In some embodiments of the invention, the sample was fixed in formaldehyde or paraformaldehyde prior to taking steps to evaluate its miRNA. In additional embodiments, samples that can be used according to the invention include those in which RNA in the sample has been degraded. Such samples include those in which about or at least about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% or more, or any range derivable therein, of the mRNA and/or rRNA in the sample is degraded. In particular embodiments, samples in which there has been substantial degradation—that is, at least about 80% degradation of mRNA and/or rRNA in the sample—are analyzed according to methods and compositions of the invention.

In some embodiments, enzymes used in methods and compositions of the invention are selected from the group consisting of poly(A) polymerase, terminal transferase, and polynucleotide phosphorylase. In particular embodiments, the enzyme is poly(A) polymerase. In some cases, poly(A) polymerase is from E. coli or yeast. The enzyme may be purified, recombinant, and/or purchased commercially.

Labeling methods of the invention involve, in many embodiments, one or more modified nucleotides. The term “modified nucleotide” refers to a nucleotide—the basic structural unit of nucleic acids, RNA and DNA—that has been chemically modified, but still functions as a nucleotide. Modified nucleotides include nucleotides with covalently-bound detectable moieties, such as a fluorescent or chemi-luminescent label. Modified nucleotides also include nucleotides with reactive groups that can react with a detectable moiety before, during, or after incorporation of the modified nucleotide to create a labeled nucleic acid. In specific embodiments, the modified nucleotide is an amine-modified nucleotide, which means the nucleotide has been modified to have a reactive amine group. Modified nucleotides may be uridine, adenosine, guanosine, and/or cytosine. In specific embodiments, the amine-modified nucleotide is selected from the group consisting of 5-(3-aminoallyl)-UTP; 8-[(4-amino)butyl]-amino-ATP and 8-[(6-amino)butyl]-amino-ATP; N⁶-(4-amino)butyl-ATP, N⁶-(6-amino)butyl-ATP, N⁴-[2,2-oxy-bis-(ethylamine)]-CTP; N⁶-(6-Amino)hexyl-ATP; 8-[(6-Amino)hexyl]-amino-ATP; 5-propargylamino-CTP, 5-propargylamino-UTP. However, it is contemplated that other nucleotides may be similarly modified, for example, 5-(3-aminoallyl)-GTP instead of 5-(3-aminoallyl)-UTP.

In certain embodiments, a reaction mixture includes modified nucleotides that have a labeled moiety attached (“labeled nucleotides”). In this case, a one-step process (a single enzymatic reaction) is used to generate multi-labeled miRNA, which refers to an miRNA molecule having at least two labels attached to it. Labeled nucleotides are readily available; they can be acquired commercially or they can be synthesized by reactions known to those of skill in the art. When the reaction includes labeled nucleotides, it is contemplated that in other embodiments, both labeled and unlabeled nucleotides are included. The labeled and unlabeled nucleotides may be the same nucleotides (but labeled and unlabeled) or they may be different nucleotides (such as a labeled UTP but an unlabeled CTP, GTP, and/or ATP.

In certain other embodiments, the tailing reaction contains unlabeled but modified nucleotides (“unlabeled/modified nucleotide”) that are labeled in a subsequent reaction (two-step process). It is contemplated that a reaction may contain modified and unmodified nucleotides to improve tailing efficiency and avoid dye-quenching induced by having dye molecules to close together. The unmodified and modified nucleotides may be the same nucleotide (but one modified and the other not) or they may be different nucleotides (such as a modified UTP but an unmodified CTP, GTP, and/or ATP.

Thus, in both the one-step and two-step processes of the invention, a reaction mixture for tailing comprises modified and unmodified nucleotides. In some embodiments, the ratio of modified to unmodified nucleotides in the reaction mixture is from about 1:1 to about 10:1, and specifically about 5:1. The ratio may be about 1:5, 1:4, 1:3, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1, 6:1, 7:1, 8:1, 9:1, 10:1, 11:1, 12:1, 13:1, 14:1, 15:1 or more, or any range derivable therein. It is understood that the ratio is based on concentrations.

If the reaction mixture contains initially unlabeled/modified nucleotides, the nucleotides are added to the miRNA, which becomes tailed, and one or more labels become subsequently attached to one or more of these nucleotides. The way in which the label becomes attached depends on the label being used, and a person of ordinary skill in the art would know how to attach the label in a subsequent reaction.

Labels that can be attached to miRNA include those that are covalently attached to a nucleic acid. It is contemplated that the label on the labeled nucleotides or the label that becomes attached to the nucleotides in the tailed miRNA is biotin, radioactivity, or a dye. Alternatively, the label may be qualified as positron-emitting, colorimetric, enzymatic, luminescent, fluorescent, or a ligand.

In specific embodiments of the invention, the dye is selected from the group consisting of Alexa Fluor, BODIPY, Cascade Blue, Cascade Yellow, cyanine dye, eosins and erythrosins, fluorescein, HEX, Marina Blue, Oregon Green, Rhodamine, Quantum Dye™, SYPRO, tetramethylrhodamine, Texas Red, TOTAB, and derivatives thereof.

It is contemplated that miRNA from a single sample can be labeled with the same label or with different labels.

Tailing reactions may be incubated for at least or at most 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 hours or more. Typically, reactions are about 1 to 3 hours, such as 2 hours. Incubations may be at temperatures of 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, or 40° C. or more, though it is specifically contemplated that temperatures may be in the range of 30° C. to 40° C., particularly at about 37° C.

In some embodiments of the invention, the reaction mixture in which nucleotides are added to miRNA further comprises a volume exclusion reagent. Examples of such reagents include, but are not limited to, a reagent selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextran. In some embodiments of the invention, the concentration of the volume exclusion reagent in the reaction is between about 1% and about 20% or about 5% to 10%. The concentration of the volume exclusion reagent in the reaction is about, at least about, or at most about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20%, or any range derivable therein, in embodiments of the reaction. In certain cases, the concentration of the volume exclusion reagent in the reaction is up to about 10%.

The reaction mixture for tailing miRNA molecules has a pH of about or at most about 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, or 7.8, or any range derivable therein. In particular embodiments, the reaction mixture has a pH between about 6.0 and about 7.8, and in certain cases, the pH is about 6.5.

The present invention also concerns arrays for evaluating miRNA molecules. Clearly contemplated is an array that is a microarray. The arrays have one or more probes directed to one or more miRNA molecules (“miRNA array”). In some embodiments, an miRNA array includes one or more miRNA probes immobilized on a solid support. An “miRNA probe” refers to a nucleic acid having a sequence that is complementary or identical to all or part of a miRNA precursor or gene such that it is capable of specifically hybridizing to an miRNA gene, the cognate miRNA precursor, or the processed miRNA. Typically, the probe will contain at least ten contiguous nucleotides complementary to all or part of the miRNA precursor or at least ten contiguous nucleotides complementary or identical to all or part of an miRNA gene. It will be understood that DNA probes with sequences relative to an miRNA gene will be identical in sequence to all or part of the coding sequence of the gene and complementary in sequence to all or part of the noncoding sequence of the gene. In specific embodiments, an miRNA probe contains the sequence encoding an miRNA (“miRNA coding sequence,” which refers to sequence encoding processed miRNA). Because the precise length and, consequently, sequence of a particular processed miRNA has been found to vary occasionally, the predominant species will be understood as the sequence and length of the processed miRNA. The predominant species is usually the one observed at least 90% of the time.

In embodiments of the invention, there is an amine attached to the 5′ or 3′ end of the probe. The amine was a reactive group on the probe that allowed for attachment of the probe to the array.

The number of different probes on the array is variable. It is contemplated that there may be, be at least, or be at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360, 370, 380, 390, 400, 410, 420, 430, 440, 441, 450, 460, 470, 480, 490, 500, 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560, 570, 580, 590, 600, 610, 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680, 690, 700, 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 770, 780, 790, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, 860, 870, 880, 890, 900, 910, 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, 970, 980, 990, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 31, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3600, 3700, 3800, 3900, 4000, 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400, 4500, 4600, 4700, 4800, 4900, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000, 10000 or more, or any range derivable therein, different miRNA probes on an array. In specific embodiments, arrays have between 5 and 1000 different miRNA probes, between 20 and 500 different miRNA probes, between 50 and 250 different miRNA probes, or between 100 and 225 different miRNA probes. “Different” probes refers to probes with different sequences. Therefore, it is contemplated that different probes can be used to target the same miRNA. Moreover, multiple and different probes to the same miRNA can be included on an array. For example, one probe may target specifically a precursor miRNA or the miRNA gene (depending on what sample is used to hybridize to the array—i.e, whether the sample contains DNA or RNA), while another probe may be capable of hybridizing to the processed miRNA, its precursor, or the gene. Moreover, miRNA probes targeting the same miRNA may be overlapping, such that they share contiguous sequences. It is also contemplated that a single probe may target multiple miRNAs, particularly miRNAs from the same gene family or related miRNAs (distinguished by a letter). It is understood by those of skill in the art that a “gene family” refers to a group of genes having the same miRNA coding sequence. Typically, members of a gene family are identified by a number following the initial designation. For example, miR-16-1 and miR-16-2 are members of the miR-16 gene family. Also, a probe may have a sequence that allows it to target more than 1 miRNA. It is understood that a 2-base pair mismatch between the probe and an miRNA is sufficient to hybridize with at least 90% of the mismatched miRNA under the conditions described in the Examples. Consequently, it will be understood that unless otherwise indicated, a probe for a particular miRNA will also pick up a related miRNA, such as those designated with the same number but with an added letter designation. For example, an miRNA probe that is fully complementary to miR-15a would also hybridize to miR-15b, unless otherwise noted. Thus, an miRNA probe can target 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more different miRNAs.

miRNA probes are contemplated to be made of DNA, though in some embodiments, they may be RNA, nucleotide analogs, PNAs, or any combination of DNA, RNA, nucleotide analogs, and PNAs.

As suggested above, it is contemplated that arrays of the invention may target one or more miRNAs. In embodiments of the invention, an array has probes that target 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360, 370, 380, 390, 400, 410, 420, 430, 440, 441, 450, 460, 470, 480, 490, 500, 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560, 570, 580, 590, 600, 610, 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680, 690, 700, 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 770, 780, 790, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, 860, 870, 880, 890, 900, 910, 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, 970, 980, 990, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 31, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3600, 3700, 3800, 3900, 4000, 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400, 4500, 4600, 4700, 4800, 4900, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000, 10000 or more, or any range derivable therein, different miRNAs. Accordingly, it is understood that the array contains one or more probes for these different miRNAs. In specific embodiments, human miRNAs are targeted, though the targeting of multiple organisms or species using a single array or other method or technique is contemplated. In certain other embodiments, miRNAs of a mammal are targeted. Such mammals include, but are not limited to, monkeys, gorilla, chimpanzees, rats, mice, cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, ferrets, cows, sheep, pigs, humans, rodents, and goats. Thus, arrays or methods including miRNA probes having human miRNA coding sequences or other mammalian miRNA coding sequences are part of the invention.

miRNA probes of the invention have an miRNA coding sequence that is between 19-34 nucleotides in length. Of course, this is understood to mean that the probes have 19-34 contiguous nucleotides that are identical or nearly identical to the miRNA gene and complementary to the processed miRNA or its precursor. As discussed above, a probe can be used to target an miRNA with which it has a 2-base pair mismatch in hybridization. Thus, it is contemplated that miRNA probes of the invention may be almost fully complementary (2 base-pair mismatches or fewer) or fully complementary to any miRNA sequence or set of sequences (such as related miRNAs or miRNAs from the same gene family) that is targeted. The term “nearly identical” means that any difference in sequence is 2 bases or fewer. When an miRNA has a perfectly complementary stem loop in its precursor, the miRNA coding sequence should be identical to a sequence in the precursor as well. In some embodiments of the invention, a probe has an miRNA coding sequence that includes the entire processed miRNA sequence. It is contemplated that the probe has or has at least 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or more contiguous nucleotides, or any range derivable therein, from an miRNA coding sequence. In specific embodiments, an miRNA probe has a sequence identical or complementary, or at least 90% or greater identity or complementarity, across the lengths discussed in the previous sentence with respect to any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-593, inclusive, as well as any other sequence discussed herein, including in the appendix. The appendix provides a list of 1) miRNAs that were screened, any one of which can be screened for using any array or method of the present invention; 2) the names of the probe used to screen for that miRNA; and, 3) the sequence of the named probe.

As discussed above, miRNA are processed from a precursor molecule. In certain embodiments, probes have an miRNA coding sequence that also includes at least 2 to 5 nucleotides of coding sequence upstream and/or downstream of the processed miRNA sequence. Probes may have or have up to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or more contiguous nucleotides, or any range derivable therein, that flank the sequence encoding the predominant processed miRNA on one or both sides (5′ and/or 3′ end). In particular embodiments, probes have an miRNA coding sequence that includes 4 nucleotides of coding sequence upstream (5′) and/or downstream (3′) of the processed miRNA sequence. On other embodiments, miRNA probes also have one or more linkers flanking the miRNA coding sequence. In particular embodiments, there is a linker at the 3′ end of the miRNA coding sequence. In some embodiments, a linker has a sequence that is between 3 to 25 nucleotides in length.

In some embodiments of the invention, miRNA probes are attached to the array through an amine attached at the 3′ end.

The invention is not limited to arrays constructed with particular materials. Typically, arrays are made with materials that do not interfere with the hybridization between the probe and a sample. In some embodiments, the array is a solid support that is made with glass, plastic, or metal.

The present invention concerns methods for identifying a correlation between miRNA expression and a disease or condition. In certain embodiments, methods involve identifying miRNA differentially expressed in a sample representative of the disease or condition (non-normal sample) compared to a normal sample. A sample representative of the disease or condition will be one that has the disease or condition, is affected by the disease or condition, and/or causes the disease or condition. In certain embodiments, identifying differentially expressed miRNA involves: a) labeling miRNA in the sample; and b) hybridizing the labelled miRNA to an miRNA array. In further embodiments, the miRNA in the sample is isolated before or after labeling.

In certain embodiments, isolating miRNA in a sample involves methods concerning electrophoresis. The present invention provides methods for the isolation of nucleic acids using electrophoresis. These methods may be used to isolate any nucleic acid molecules including, but not limited to, small nucleic acid molecules such as miRNA. In some embodiments the nucleic acid molecules are less than 200 nucleotides in length. In other embodiments, the nucleic acid molecules are less than 100 nucleotides in length. In certain aspects the nucleic acid molecules are between 15-200 nucleotides in length, 15-100 nucleotides in length, 15-40 nucleotides in length, or are ≦40 nucleotides in length.

In one embodiment, the method for isolating nucleic acid molecules from a sample comprises: providing an electrophoresis apparatus comprising a lower buffer collection chamber electrically coupled to a positive electrode, an upper buffer chamber electrically coupled to a negative electrode, and a gel matrix disposed between the lower buffer collection chamber and the upper buffer chamber; adding a running buffer to the lower buffer collection chamber and the upper buffer chamber; applying the sample to a surface of the gel matrix; moving the nucleic acid molecules in the sample through the gel matrix by electrophoresis; and collecting the running buffer from the lower collection buffer chamber, wherein the running buffer in the lower collection buffer chamber comprises nucleic acid molecules that passed through the gel matrix. The electrophoresis apparatus used in the practice of the present invention may be a micro-electrophoresis apparatus, such as the flashPAGE Fractionator (Ambion, Inc.). In some embodiments, the method further comprises purifying the nucleic acid molecules present in the collected running buffer. In certain embodiments, between about 1 μg to about 100 μg of nucleic acid are applied to the gel matrix.

In certain aspects of the invention, the electrophoresis is performed at about 50 to about 100 Volts (V) and about 2 to about 5 milliAmps (mA). In other aspects of the invention, the electrophoresis is performed at about 60-80 V and about 3 mA. In some embodiments, the electrophoresis is performed for about 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. 18, 19, or about 20 minutes.

The nucleic acid molecules may be isolated in one fraction or they may be isolated in more than one fraction. Nucleic acid molecules of a desired size or size range may be isolated by collecting specific fractions as they migrate off of the gel. After the running buffer has been removed from the lower buffer collection chamber to collect a first fraction of nucleic acid molecules that has migrated off the gel, it is necessary to add additional running buffer to the lower buffer collection chamber in order to continue electrophoresis and collect additional fractions of nucleic acid molecules. Where the nucleic acid molecules are isolated in multiple fractions, it may be desirable that they are isolated at regular intervals such as 30 second, 1 minute, 2 minute, or 3 minute intervals. By performing a time course and evaluating the size of nucleic acids collected at each time point in an initial run, any desired size class of nucleic acid molecules can be isolated in subsequent runs because the nucleic acid size fractions will exit the gel at the same timepoint during each run as long as the conditions are kept consistent between runs.

A dye marker may also be applied to the surface of the gel matrix at the same time as the sample comprising nucleic acids is loaded onto the gel. A dye marker that is known to migrate through the gel matrix with a particular size of nucleic acid is useful in identifying an approximate time for elution of nucleic acids of the size or sizes of interest. For example, a dye marker that migrates with 40 nucleotide nucleic acids would be useful in collecting nucleic acid fractions that contain nucleic acids that are smaller or larger than 40 nucleotides. To collect nucleic acid molecules that are less than 40 nucleotides in length, electrophoresis should be stopped just as the dye begins to migrate off of the gel, and the running buffer collected from the lower buffer collection chamber. For nucleic acids larger than 40 nucleotides, collection of the lower running buffer would begin once the dye begins to migrate off of the gel.

Electrophoretic purification of nucleic acids can isolate nucleic acids of a desired size or size range away from nucleic acid molecules of other sizes, such that the nucleic acids of the desired size or size range are substantially pure, meaning they are at least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% pure or more, but less than 100% pure, with respect to other nucleic acid molecules in the sample. Alternatively, enrichment of nucleic acids of the desired size or size range may be expressed in terms of fold-enrichment. In certain embodiments, the nucleic acids of the desired size or size range are enriched by about, at least about, or at most about 5×, 10×, 20×, 30×, 40×, 50×, 60×, 70×, 80×, 90×, 100×, 110×, 120×, 130×, 140×, 150×, 160×, 170×, 180×, 190×, 200×, 210×, 220×, 230×, 240×, 250×, 260×, 270×, 280×, 290×, 300×, 310×, 320×, 330×, 340×, 350×, 360×, 370×, 380×, 390×, 400×, 410×, 420×, 430×, 440×, 450×, 460×, 470×, 480×, 490×, 500×, 600×, 700×, 800×, 900×, 1000×, 1100×, 1200×, 1300×, 1400×, 1500×, 1600×, 1700×, 1800×, 1900×, 2000×, 3000×, 4000×, 5000×, 6000×, 7000×, 8000×, 9000×, 10,000× or more, or any range derivable therein, with respect to the concentration of the nucleic acids of the desired size or size range in the nucleic acid sample.

In further embodiments, methods involve identifying an appropriate sample to analyze or evaluate. It is particularly contemplated that in some embodiments, an appropriate sample is one that can provide information about a particular disease or condition or about some other phenotype.

Other methods of the invention concern analyzing miRNA in a sample comprising generating an miRNA profile for the sample and evaluating the miRNA profile to determine whether miRNA in the sample are differentially expressed compared to a normal sample. In specific embodiments, methods of the invention include a method for evaluating miRNA in a biological sample. In certain instances, the biological sample is from a patient. This method is implemented by analyzing one or more miRNAs in a sample using the array compositions and methods of the invention. In specific embodiments, miRNA are evaluated by one or more of the following steps: a) isolating miRNA away from other RNA in the sample; b) labeling the miRNA; c) hybridizing the miRNA to an miRNA array; and, d) determining miRNA hybridization to the array. Whether miRNAs hybridize to the array, what miRNAs hybridize to the array, and/or how much total miRNA or any specific miRNAs hybridize to the array are ways of determining the extent of miRNA hybridization to the array. Methods of detecting, measuring and quantifying hybridization are well known to those of skill in the art. In specific embodiments, miRNA hybridization is quantified.

The present invention also concerns methods of generating an miRNA profile for a sample. The term “miRNA profile” refers to a set of data regarding the expression pattern for a plurality of miRNAs in the sample that was obtained using an miRNA array. In some embodiments of the invention, an miRNA profile is generated by steps that include: a) labeling miRNA in the sample; b) hybridizing the miRNA to an miRNA array; and, c) determining miRNA hybridization to the array, wherein an miRNA profile is generated.

miRNA profiles can be generated to compare differences in miRNA expression between any two or more different samples. miRNA profiles can be compared, for example, between a sample with a particular disease, disorder, or condition and a sample that does not have the particular disease, disorder or condition; between samples that have a particular disease, disorder or condition but a different stage of the disease, disorder or condition; between samples that have a particular disease, disorder or condition but with a different prognosis with respect the disease, disorder or condition; between a sample that has been treated with a particular agent and a sample that has not been treated with that agent; between samples that have responded differently to a particular substance or agent, such as one responsive to the treatment and one not, or one resistant to the treatment and one not; samples that differ by gender of the sources; samples that differ by age or stage of development of the source; samples that differ by tissue type; samples that differ by at least one known polymorphism; between a sample that has a particular mutation and a sample that does not; a sample that is defective in a particular pathway or has a defective protein and a sample that does not; between a sample that is apparently resistant to a particular disease, disorder, or condition and a sample that is not expected to be resistant to that particular disease, disorder, or condition, as well as a comparison involving any samples with a combination of characteristics as described above.

Samples from which miRNA profiles are generated include samples that can be characterized based on one or more of the following: age; developmental stage; prognosis of a disease, condition, or disorder; cell type; tissue type; organ type; race or ethnicity; gender; susceptibility to or risk of a particular disease, condition, or disorder; diet; exposure to or treatment with a particular chemical, agent or substance; diagnosis of a particular a disease, condition, or disorder; organism type; genomic makeup, etc.

Methods of the invention allow differences between two or more biological samples to be determined by generating an miRNA profile for each sample and comparing the profiles, wherein a difference in the profiles identifies differentially expressed miRNA molecules. In specific embodiments, a first sample is treated with a substance prior to generating the miRNA profile and a second sample is untreated. In other embodiments, a first sample exhibits a disease or condition and a second sample exhibits the same disease or condition but at a different stage of progression. In further embodiments, a first sample responds favorably to a therapeutic agent and a second sample is unresponsive to the therapeutic agent. Moreover, in other embodiments, a first sample is from a first subject who responds adversely to a therapeutic agent and a second sample is from a second subject does not respond adversely to the therapeutic agent.

Other methods of the invention concern identifying a correlation between miRNA expression and a disease or condition comprising comparing different miRNA profiles, such as 1) an miRNA profile of a sample with the disease or condition or from a subject with the disease or condition and 2) an miRNA profile of a sample that is normal with respect to that disease or condition or that is from a subject that does not have the disease or condition. In specific embodiments, methods include a) isolating miRNA from a sample exhibiting the disease or condition; b) labeling the miRNA; c) hybridizing the miRNA to an miRNA array; and, d) identifying miRNA differentially expressed in the sample compared to a normal sample. It is contemplated that the miRNA profiles may be generated in the process of performing the method; alternatively, they may be obtained from previously obtained results. Moreover, it is contemplated that comparisons may be done by using a plurality of miRNA profiles (multiple samples from the same source obtained at the same or different times and/or samples from different sources). In this case, a normalized miRNA profile may be generated and used for comparison purposes.

In certain embodiments, methods concern identifying miRNAs indicative of a disease or condition by detecting a correlation between the expression of particular miRNAs and a sample believed to have a disease or condition.

In specific embodiments, there are methods for analyzing a biological sample from a patient for a disease or condition comprising generating an miRNA profile for the sample and evaluating the miRNA profile to determine whether miRNA in the sample are differentially expressed compared to a normal sample. The comparison may involve using an array that has selective miRNA probes that are indicative of a disease or condition. Arrays of the invention include macroarrays and microarrays.

Arrays can contains miRNA sequences from any organism having miRNAs, specifically including, mammals such as humans, mice, and rats. However, unless specifically indicated, the naming of a particular miRNA refers to a human miRNA. Specifically contemplated are arrays having, having at least, or having at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447, 448, 449, 450, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 473, 474, 475, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483, 484, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539, 540, 541, 542, 543, 544, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 589, 590, 591, 592, 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3600, 3700, 3800, 3900, 4000, 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400, 4500, 4600, 4700, 4800, 4900, 5000, 5100, 5200, 5300, 5400, 5500, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 6000, 6100, 6200, 6300, 6400, 6500, 6600, 6700, 6800, 6900, 7000, 7100, 7200, 7300, 7400, 7500, 7600, 7700, 7800, 7900, 8000, 8100, 8200, 8300, 8400, 8500, 8600, 8700, 8800, 8900, 9000, 9100, 9200, 9300, 9400, 9500, 9600, 9700, 9800, 9900, 10000 or more different miRNA probes (that is, miRNA probes having different sequences targeting the same or different miRNAs, miRNA precursors, or miRNA genes). Specifically contemplated are such arrays described in the previous sentence with probes for any of SEQ ID NOs:1-703 or with any other sequence provided herein, including those identified in SEQ ID NOs:704-899. Moreover, embodiments can specifically include or employ any or all of the probes identified in Table 1C. Probes may be identical or complementary to 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 or more contiguous nucleic acids (or any range deriveable therein) of SEQ ID NOs:704-899. Alternatively, any probe used may be, be at least, or be at most 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100% complementary or identical (or any range derivable therein) to any sequence in SEQ ID NOs:1-899. It is specifically contemplated that any embodiment discussed in the context of an miRNA array may be employed more generally in screening or profiling methods or kits of the invention. In other words, any embodiments describing what may be included in a particular array can be practiced in the context of miRNA profiling more generally and need not involve an array per se.

In specific embodiments, an array has, has at least, or has at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 probes (or any range derivable therein) for human miRNA selected from the group consisting of let-7, miR-7, let-7F-2, miR-9, miR-10a, miR-16, miR-17, miR-21, miR-22, miR-23, miR-24, miR-26a, miR-28, miR-29b, miR-30a, miR-31, miR-95, miR-105, miR-106, miR-125a, miR-126, miR-130, miR-130a, miR-133, miR-135A, miR-137, miR-138, miR-139, miR-140, miR-143, miR-144, miR-145, miR-181a, miR-182, miR-183, miR-186, miR-188, miR-192, miR-194, miR-195, miR-199a, miR-200b, mu-miR-201, miR-205, miR-211, miR-215, miR-219, miR-223, miR-224, mu-miR-290, mu-miR-291-5P, mu-miR-298, miR-301, miR-328, miR-331, and miR-342. It will be understood that shorthand notations are employed such that a generic description of an miRNA refers to any of its gene family members (distinguished by a number) and related members (distinguished by a letter), unless otherwise indicated. For example, “mir-7” refers to miR-7-1, miR-7-2 and miR-7-3. Similarly, “let-7,” for example, refers to let-7a-1, let7-a-2, let-7b, let-7c, let-7d, let-7e, let-7f-1, and let-7f-2.” Exceptions to this shorthand notations will be otherwise identified. A probe with at least 90% complementarity will allow hybridization to an miRNA. It is contemplated that a probe for a non-human miRNA can be used in embodiments of the invention to target human homologs or sequences with sufficient complementarity to allow their detection with the non-human miRNA probe. Such probes may be for miRNA identified in mouse or rat, or any other organism, including other mammals. For example, mu-miR-201 is a mouse miRNA yet when a probe for that sequence was employed with a human sample, the human homolog for mu-miRNA-201 was detected.

It is contemplated that any combination of these probes or the target miRNAs can be used in methods and compositions of the invention. Furthermore, an increase and/or decrease in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 or more of these miRNAs relative to a normal sample, where “normal sample” means the sample does not have or is not afflicted with the disease, condition, or state that is being tested for. It is contemplated that such an array may also include a probe for an miRNA listed in Table 1.

Moreover, in specific embodiments, methods and compositions may involve samples that include cancer or tumor cells or are from a subject diagnosed with cancer. In particular embodiments, the cancer is selected from the group consisting of astrocytoma, bone cancer, bladder cancer, brain cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, glioblastoma cancer, head cancer, hepatocarcinoma, leukemia, lung cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, mesothelioma, neuroblastoma, neck cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, renal cancer, retinoblastoma, small-cell lung cancer, stomach cancer testicular cancer, thymus cancer, and thyroid cancer.

In specific embodiments, an array has, has at least, or has at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, or 40 probes (or any range derivable therein) for human miRNA selected from the group consisting let-7, let-7A, let-7C, let-7F-2, miR-7, miR-9a, miR-9-as, miR-10a, miR-15A, miR-16, miR-17, miR-20, miR-21, miR-22, miR-23a, miR-23b, miR-24, miR-25, miR-26a, miR-28, miR-29b, miR-30a, miR-30a-as, miR-31, miR-92, miR-95, miR-99b, miR-103, miR-105, miR-106a, miR-125a, miR-126, miR-126-as, miR-130a, miR-133, miR-137, miR-138, miR-139, miR-140, miR-141, miR-143, miR-144, miR-145, miR-152, miR-181a, miR-181b, miR-182, miR-183, miR-186, miR-188, miR-192, miR-194, miR-195, miR-199a, miR-199a-as, miR-200b, mu-miR-201, miR-203, miR-205, miR-211, miR-215, miR-219, miR-221, miR-222, miR-223, miR-224, miR-290, miR-291, miR-291-5P, miR-298, miR-301, miR-326, miR-328, mu-mu-miR-329, miR-331, miR-341, miR-342, miR-344, miR-361, and miR-425. In certain embodiments involving such an array, a change in expression compared to a normal sample is indicative of cancer. Moreover, it is contemplated that methods may involve such miRNA probes with or without the array.

In particular embodiments, the array or methods involve at least one probe for one or more of the following miRNAs: miR-21, miR-126, miR-143, miR-145, miR-188, miR-200B, miR-219, and miR-331. In methods of the invention using such an array, an increase in miR-17, miR-21, miR-182, miR-183, miR-200b, miR-205, miR-223, and/or miR-224 expression is indicative of cancer, and/or a decrease in the expression of let-7, miR-10a, miR-16, miR-22, miR-23, miR-24, miR-26a, miR-29b, miR-30a, miR-106, miR-125a, miR-126, miR-130, miR130a, miR-133, miR-143, miR-144, miR-145, miR-181a, miR-188, miR-219, miR-192, miR-194, miR-195, miR-199a, mu-miR-201, miR-215, miR-328, miR-331, and/or miR-342 is indicative of cancer.

This means that any of the following is indicative of cancer: 1) a decrease in expression of one or more of the identified miRNAs (or human homologs thereof); 2) an increase in expression of one or more of the identified miRNAs (or human homologs thereof); or 3) both an increase and a decrease in expression of one or more of the identified miRNAs (or human homologs thereof). It is contemplated in some embodiments that a difference in expression of at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447, 448, 449, 450, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 473, 474, 475, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483, 484, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 500 different miRNAs can be used as indicators of a disease, condition, or other phenotype. Moreover, it is contemplated that in some cases, the indicators provide information about the risk of having or developing a particular disease, condition, or phenotype. These different miRNAs include any of the following: let-7, let-7A, let-7C, let7D-as, let-7F-2, miR-7, miR-9a, miR-9-as, miR-10a, miR-15a, miR-15b, miR-16, miR-17, miR-20, miR-21, miR-22, miR-23a, miR-23b, miR-24, miR-25, miR-26a, miR-27a, miR-28, miR-29, miR-29b, miR-30a, miR-30a-as, miR-31, miR-32, miR-92, miR-95, miR-99b, miR-103, miR-105, miR-106a, miR-125a, miR-125b, miR-126, miR-126-as, miR-126a, miR-128, miR-130a, miR-133, miR-133a, miR-135a, miR-137, miR-138, miR-139, miR-140, miR-141, miR-143, miR-144, miR-145, miR-150, miR-152, miR-181a, miR-181b, miR-182, miR-183, miR-184, miR-186, miR-188, miR-189, miR-192, miR-194, miR-195, miR-199, miR-199a, miR-199a-as, miR-200b, miR-201, miR-203, miR-204, miR-205, miR-207, miR-211, miR-212, miR-215, miR-219, miR-221, miR-222, miR-223, miR-224, miR-239, miR-290, miR-291, miR-291-5P, miR-298, miR-301, miR-326, miR-328, mu-miR-329, miR-331, miR-338, miR-341, miR-342, miR-344, miR-361, and miR-425.

It is specifically contemplated that any kit, array or other detection technique or tool, or any method can involve profiling for any of these miRNAs.

Cancer includes, but is not limited to, malignant cancers, tumors, metastatic cancers, unresectable cancers, chemo- and/or radiation-resistant cancers, and terminal cancers. It is specifically contemplated that in any embodiments involving a possible decrease or increase in expression of certain miRNAs that only a decrease may be evaluated, only an increase may be evaluated, or that both an increase and decrease in expression of any of the miRNA mentioned in that context (or any other discussed herein) may be evaluated.

In specific embodiments, an miRNA array or methods involving 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13 probes (or any range derivable therein) for miRNA(s) selected from the group consisting of: miR-21, miR-15a, miR-16, miR-24, miR-25, miR-99, miR-100, miR-205, miR-197, miR-126, miR-143, and miR-145, or from the group consisting of miR-15A, miR-21, miR-24, miR-135A, miR-145, miR-200B, miR-205, miR-211, miR-298, and mu-miR-329. In methods of the invention, a difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13 of the miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of breast cancer. In methods of the invention, an increase in miR-21, miR-15a, miR-16, miR-24, and/or miR-25 expression, and/or a decrease in miR-99, miR-100, miR-205, miR-197, miR-126, miR-143, and/or miR-145 expression, compared to a normal sample, is indicative of breast cancer. In other embodiments, a decrease in expression of miR-135A, miR-145, miR-205, miR-211, miR-298, or mu-miR-329 and/or an increase in expression of miR-15A, miR-21, miR-24, or miR-200B compared to a normal sample is indicative of breast cancer. Arrays may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

In other embodiments, the miRNA array or methods involving 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 probes (or any range derivable therein) for miRNA(s) selected from the group consisting of: miR-10a, miR-17, miR-21, mir-23, miR-26a, miR-30a, miR-106, miR-125a, miR-126, miR-130, miR-130a, miR-133, miR-143, miR-144, miR-145, miR-188, miR-192, miR-194, miR-195, miR-199a, miR-200b, miR-215, miR-223, miR-224, miR-331, and miR-342 or selected from the group consisting of: miR-21, miR-31, miR-106A, miR-125a, mir-130a, miR-133, miR-135, miR-143, miR-145, miR-200B, miR-203, and miR-223. In methods of the invention, a difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or 26 of the miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of colon cancer.

In certain embodiments, a decrease in expression of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21 (or any range derivable therein) of the following miRNA(s) is indicative of colon cancer: miR-145, miR-143, miR-133, miR-342, miR-125a, miR-195, miR-30a, miR-10a, miR-130, miR-130a, miR-192, miR-194, miR-215, miR-144, miR-23, miR-26a, miR-126, miR-199a, miR-188, miR-331, and/or miR-21; and, an increase in expression of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 (or any range derivable therein) of the following miRNA(s) is indicative of colon cancer: miR-21, miR-106, miR-200b, miR-223, miR-224, and/or miR-17. Arrays may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

In specific embodiments, an miRNA array or methods involving 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 probes (or any range derivable therein) for miRNA(s) selected from the group consisting of: miR-21, miR-31, miR-106A, miR-125a, mir-130a, miR-133, miR-135A, miR-143, miR-145, miR-200B, miR-203, and miR-223. A difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 of the miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of colon cancer. In certain methods of the invention, an increase in miR-17, miR-21, miR-106, and/or miR-223 expression; and/or a decrease in miR-130a, miR-143, miR-145, miR-195, and/or miR-331 expression, compared to a normal sample, is indicative of colon cancer. In other embodiments, a decrease in expression of miR-125a, mir-130a, miR-133, miR-135A, miR-143, or miR-145 and/or an increase in expression of miR-21, miR-31, miR-106A, miR-200B, miR-203, or miR-223 compared to a normal sample is indicative of colon cancer. Arrays may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

Throughout this application, the term “difference in expression” means that the level of a particular miRNA in a sample is higher or lower than the level of that particular miRNA in a normal sample. “Normal sample” in the context of testing for cancer means a noncancerous sample.

In further embodiments, the miRNA array or methods involving 1, 2, or 3 miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein) selected from the group consisting of: miR-21, miR-23, and miR-143 or selected from the group consisting of miR-15A, miR-21, miR-29, miR-141, miR-188, miR-290, and miR-331. In methods of the invention, a decrease in miR-21, miR-23, and/or miR-143 expression, compared to a normal sample, is indicative of prostate cancer. In certain embodiments, a decrease in expression of miR-188, miR-290, or miR-331 and/or an increase in expression of miR-15A, miR-21, miR-29, or miR-141 compared to a normal sample is indicative of prostate cancer. Arrays may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

Moreover, in additional embodiments, the miRNA array or methods involving 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18 probes (or any range derivable therein) for miRNA(s) selected from the group consisting of: miR-21, miR-125, miR-24, miR-200b, miR-29b, miR-221, miR-222, miR-224, miR-10a, miR-183, miR-145, miR-22, miR-331, miR-126, miR-30a, miR-199a, and miR-223 or selected from the group consisting of miR-15A, miR-21, miR-30A-as, miR-31, miR-135A, miR-138, miR-152, miR-199A-as, miR-200B, miR-203, and miR-331. In methods of the invention, an increase in miR-21 miR-125, miR-24, miR-200b, miR-29b, miR-221, miR-222, miR-224, miR-10a, and/or miR-183 expression and/or a decrease in miR-145, miR-22, miR-126, miR-30a, miR-199a, miR-223, and/or miR-331, expression, compared to a normal sample, is indicative of thyroid cancer. In certain embodiments, a decrease in expression of miR-30A-as, miR-31, miR-135A, miR-138, miR-152, miR-199A-as, miR-203, or miR-331 and/or an increase in expression of miR-15A, miR-21, or miR-200B compared to a normal sample is indicative of thyroid cancer. Arrays may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

In specific embodiments, an miRNA array or methods involving 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, or 28 probes (or any range derivable therein) for miRNA(s) selected from the group consisting of: let-7, miR-16, miR-17, miR-21, miR-22, miR-24, miR-26a, miR-29b, miR-30a, miR-106, miR-125a, miR-126, miR-143, miR-145, miR-181a, miR-182, miR-183, miR-188, miR-195, miR-200b, mu-miR-201, miR-205, miR-223, miR-328, miR-331, and miR-342 or selected from the group consisting of let-7a, let-7c, miR-21, miR-26a, miR-30A-AS, miR-95, miR-125a, miR-126, miR-200b, miR-205, miR-331, and miR-342. In methods of the invention, a difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, or 28 of the miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of lung cancer. In certain embodiments, a decrease in expression of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 (or any range derivable therein) of the following miRNA(s) is indicative of lung cancer: miR-130a, miR-145, miR-126, miR-331, miR-342, miR-143, Let-7, miR-30a, miR-16, miR-26a, miR-125a, miR-29b, miR-24, miR-328, mu-miR-201, miR-195, miR-22, miR-181a, and miR-331; and/or, an increase in expression of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 (or any range derivable therein) of the following miRNA(s) is indicative of lung cancer: miR-223, miR-106, miR-21, miR-200b, miR-182, miR-183, miR-17, and miR-205. In other embodiments, a decrease in expression of let-7a, let-7c, miR-26a, miR-30A-AS, miR-95, miR-125a, miR-126, miR-331, or miR-342 and/or an increase in expression of miR-21, miR-200B, or miR-205 compared to a normal sample is indicative of lung cancer. Arrays may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

In specific embodiments, an miRNA array or methods involving 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 miRNA probes (or any range derivable therein) for miRNA(s) selected from the group consisting of: miR-21, miR-30a, miR-16, miR-126, miR-143, miR-145, miR-188, miR-200b, and miR-331. In methods of the invention using such an array, a difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of lung cancer. In methods of the invention, an increase in miR-21 and/or miR-200b expression; and/or a decrease in miR-30a, miR-126, miR-143, miR-145, miR-188, and/or miR-331 expression, compared to a normal sample, is indicative of lung cancer. Arrays may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

In specific embodiments, an miRNA array or methods involving 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 probes (or any range derivable therein) for miRNA(s) selected from the group consisting of: miR-145, miR-143, miR-126, miR-30a, miR-125a, miR-21, miR-195, miR-17, miR-182, and miR-183. In methods of the invention, a difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 of the miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of cancer. In certain embodiments, a decrease in expression of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 (or any range derivable therein) of the following miRNA(s) is indicative of cancer: miR-145, miR-143, miR-126, miR-30a, miR-125a, miR-21, miR-195, and/or miR-17; and, an increase in expression of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 (or any range derivable therein) of the following miRNA(s) is indicative of cancer: miR-125a, miR-21, miR-195, miR-17, miR-182, and/or miR-183. Arrays may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

In further embodiments, the miRNA array or methods involving 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 probe(s) (or any range derivable therein) for any miRNA selected from the group consisting of miR-9 as, miR-21, miR-133, miR-143, miR-145, miR-182, and miR-200B. In methods of the invention, a difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of bladder cancer. In certain embodiments, wherein a decrease in expression of miR-133, miR-143, or miR-145, and/or a increase in expression of miR-9 as, miR-21, miR-182, or miR-200B compared to a normal sample is indicative of bladder cancer. Arrays or other detection techniques may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe. Methods involving arrays or other detection techniques may similarly involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

The present invention also concerns an miRNA array or methods involving 1, 2, 3, or 4 probe(s) (or any range derivable therein) for any miRNA selected from the group consisting of miR-29B, miR-326, miR-361, and miR-425. In methods of the invention, a difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, or 4 of the miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of cervical cancer. In methods of the invention using such an array, an increase in expression of miR-29B, miR-326, miR-361, or miR-425 is indicative of cervical cancer. Arrays may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

The present invention also concerns an miRNA array or methods involving 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 25, 26, or 27 probe(s) (or any range derivable therein) for any miRNA selected from the group consisting of let-7, miR-15A, miR-16, miR-20, miR-21, miR-23A, miR-23B, miR-25, miR-26A, miR-92, miR-99B, miR-103, miR-106A, miR-126, miR-126AS, miR-181A, miR-181B, miR-221, miR-222, miR-223, miR-291, miR-341, miR-361, and miR-425, miR-326, miR-361, or miR-425. In methods of the invention, a difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 25, 26, or 27 miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of leukemia.

In certain embodiments, an miRNA array or method involves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 probe(s) (or any range derivable therein) for any miRNA selected from the group consisting of miR-25, miR-126, miR-126AS, miR-181B, miR-221, miR-222, miR-291, miR-361, and miR-425. In methods of the invention, a difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of acute myelogenous leukemia. Moreover, in some cases, a decrease in expression of miR-25, miR-291, miR-361, or miR-425 and/or a increase in expression of miR-126, miR-126AS, miR-181B, miR-221, or miR-222 compared to a normal sample is indicative of acute myelogenous leukemia.

In other embodiments, an miRNA array or method involves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 probe(s) (or any range derivable therein) for any miRNA selected from the group consisting of let-7, miR-15A, miR-16, miR-20, miR-21, miR-23A, miR-23B, miR-26A, miR-92, miR-99B, miR-103, miR-106A, miR-181A, miR-181B, miR-221, miR-222, miR-223, miR-341, miR-361, and miR-425. In methods of the invention, a difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Moreover, in some cases, a decrease in expression of let-7, miR-15A, miR-16, miR-20, miR-21, miR-23A, miR-23B, miR-26A, miR-92, miR-99B, miR-103, miR-106A, miR-181A, miR-181B, miR-221, miR-222, or miR-223 and/or a increase in expression of miR-341, miR-361, or miR-425 compared to a normal sample is indicative of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Other embodiments of the invention include an miRNA array that comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14 probes (or any range derivable therein) for miRNA(s) selected from the group consisting of: miR-21, miR-95, miR-105, miR-137, miR-186, miR-188, miR-199, miR-211, miR-215, miR-223, mu-miR-290, miR-301, miR-331, and miR-342 or selected from the group consisting of: let7D-AS, miR-21, miR-32, miR-95, miR-133A, miR-137, miR-141, miR-144, miR-181A, miR-184, miR-186, miR-188, miR-199, miR-201, miR-203, miR-204, miR-211, miR-212, miR-223, miR-224, mu-miR-329, miR-331 and miR-344. In methods of the invention, a difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14 miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of lupus. In methods of the invention using such an array, an increase in miR-21, miR-223, and/or mir-342 expression; and/or a decrease in miR-95, miR-105, miR-137, miR-186, miR-188, miR-199, miR-211, miR-215, mu-miR-290, miR-301, and/or miR-331 expression, compared to a normal sample, is indicative of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Arrays may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

The present invention also involves an miRNA array or method that involves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 probes (or any range derivable therein) for miRNA(s) selected from the group consisting of: miR-7, miR-9-as, miR-16, miR-24, miR-26A, miR-27A, miR-95, miR-130A, and miR-135A, or selected from the group consisting of miR-7, miR-9-as, miR-16, miR-24, miR-26A, miR-27A, miR-95, miR-130A, miR-135A and miR-239. In methods of the invention, a difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14 miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of a prion disease or susceptibility to a prion disease. In certain methods of the invention, an increase in miR-7, miR-9-as, miR-16, miR-24, miR-26A, miR-27A, and/or miR-130A expression; and/or a decrease in miR-95 and/or miR-135A expression, compared to a normal sample (uninfected and/or insensitive to prions), is indicative of a prion disease or susceptibility to a prion disease. In other embodiments, a decrease in expression of miR-95 or miR-135A and/or an increase in expression of miR-7, miR-9-as, miR-16, miR-24, miR-26A, miR-27A, miR-130A or miR-239 compared to a normal sample is indicative of prion disease or susceptibility to prion disease. Arrays may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

Another miRNA array of the invention is one comprising 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 probes (or any range derivable therein) for miRNA(s) selected from the group consisting of: Let7F-2, miR-16, miR-28, miR-30A, miR-31, miR-138, miR-139, miR-140, mu-miR-291-5P and mu-miR-298. In methods of the invention, an increase in miR-28, miR-30A, miR-31, miR-138, miR-139, miR-140, mu-miR-291-5P and/or mu-miR-298expression; and/or a decrease in Let7F-2 and/or miR-16 expression, compared to a normal sample, is indicative of ischemia or susceptibility to ischemia. Arrays may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

The present invention also concerns an miRNA array or method that involves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 probes (or any range derivable therein) for miRNA(s) selected from the group consisting of: miR-125B, miR-126a, miR-150, miR-192, miR-194, miR-207, and miR-223. In methods of the invention, a difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of Crohn's disease or susceptibility to Crohn's disease. In certain methods of the invention, a decrease in expression of miR-126 as, miR-192, miR-194, or miR-207 and/or an increase in expression of miR-125B, miR-150, or miR-223 compared to a normal sample is indicative of Crohn's disease or susceptibility to Crohn's disease. Arrays may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

Other embodiments of the invention relate to an miRNA array or method that involves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 probes (or any range derivable therein) for miRNA(s) selected from the group consisting of: let-7F2, miR-16, miR-126, miR-143, miR-145, miR-204, miR-223, miR-291, miR-338, and miR-425. In methods of the invention, a difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of Alzheimer's disease or susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease. In certain methods of the invention, a decrease in expression of let-7F2, miR-16, miR-126, miR-143, miR-145, or miR-223 and/or an increase in expression miR-204, miR-291, miR-338, or miR-425 compared to a normal sample is indicative of Alzheimer's disease or susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease. In other embodiments a difference in expression of miR-182 is indicative of Alzheimer's disease or susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease. Arrays may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

The present invention also concerns an miRNA array or method that involves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 probes (or any range derivable therein) for miRNA(s) selected from the group consisting of: let-7A, let-7C, miR-15B, miR-16, miR-17, miR-106, miR-128, miR181A, and miR-326. In methods of the invention, a difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of T cell development. In certain methods of the invention, a decrease in expression of miR-326 and/or an increase in expression let-7A, let-7C, miR-15B, miR-16, miR-17, miR-106A, miR-128, or miR-181A compared to a normal sample is indicative of T cell development. Arrays may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

The present invention also concerns an miRNA array or method that involves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 probes (or any range derivable therein) for miRNA(s) selected from the group consisting of: miR-23A, miR-23B, miR-99B, miR-126, miR-133A, and miR-326. In methods of the invention, a difference in expression of, of at least, or of at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 miRNA(s) (or any range derivable therein), compared to a normal sample, is indicative of cardiac hypertrophy or risk of cardiac hypertrophy. In certain methods of the invention, a decrease in expression of miR-23A, miR-23B, miR-99B, miR-126, miR-133A, or miR-326 compared to a normal sample is indicative of cardiac hypertrophy or risk of cardiac hypertrophy. Arrays may specifically involve any combination of probes for the miRNAs described in this paragraph, as well as any other miRNA probe.

It is specifically contemplated that miRNA profiles for patients, particularly those suspected of having a particular disease or condition, can be generated by evaluating any of the miRNAs discussed in this application. The miRNA profile that is generated from the patient will be one that provides information regarding the particular disease or condition. In many embodiments, the miRNA profile is generated using the miRNA array discussed.

The present invention also concerns methods for identifying a candidate diagnostic marker or therapeutic target of a disease or condition comprising: a) generating a miRNA profile for a first sample exhibiting the disease or condition; b) identifying any difference in the first miRNA profile as compared to a second miRNA profile of a normal sample, wherein any difference between the samples identifies differentially expressed miRNAs as a candidate diagnostic marker or therapeutic target for the disease or condition. In some embodiments, the sample exhibiting the disease or condition and the normal sample are identified from a single patient. In other embodiments, methods also include evaluating a second sample exhibiting the same disease or condition as the first sample for a difference in expression of at least one miRNA compared to its expression in a normal sample. Any of the methods or arrays discussed above can involve miRNA profiling.

Moreover, it is specifically contemplated that any embodiment discussed in the context of an miRNA array can be implemented with or without the array format in methods of the invention; in other words, any miRNA in an miRNA array may be screened or evaluated in any method of the invention according to any techniques known to those of skill in the art. The array format is not required for the screening and diagnostic methods to be implemented.

In embodiments discussed above, the expression of a “set” of miRNAs may be evaluated for information regarding a particular disease or condition. It is specifically contemplated that the invention can be implemented in which one or more miRNAs identified as part of the set is excluded either in terms of it being probed for or in terms of its expression data being excluded from the analysis or conclusion of the rest of the set. In other words, individual miRNAs may be disclaimed in any set identified herein with respect to the embodiments provided.

Other methods of the invention include methods of screening for a candidate therapeutic agent for a disease or condition comprising: a) contacting a sample exhibiting the disease or condition with a substance; b) generating an miRNA profile for the sample; and, c) comparing the miRNA profile for the sample with an miRNA profile of a sample not contacted with the substance, wherein a difference in the miRNA profiles identifies a candidate therapeutic agent.

In certain methods, one can identify or select a patient for a clinical trial or for a particular drug regimen based on his or her miRNA profile. Therefore, in some embodiments of the invention, a patient is identified as a suitable recipient of a drug or drug regimen based on his miRNA profile. Such methods involve generating an miRNA profile for the patient in which the profile involves one or more miRNAs that are indicative of efficacy or toxicity with respect to the drug or drug regimen in question. In some embodiments, methods involve identifying a patient in need of treatment that can be provided by the drug or drug regimen.

Kits are also included as part of the invention. Kits for implementing methods of the invention described herein are specifically contemplated. In some embodiments, there are kits for preparing miRNA for multi-labeling and kits for preparing miRNA probes and/or miRNA arrays. In these embodiments, kit comprise, in suitable container means, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or more of the following: 1) poly(A) polymerase; 2) unmodified nucleotides (G, A, T, C, and/or U); 3) a modified nucleotide (labeled or unlabeled); 4) poly(A) polymerase buffer; and, 5) at least one microfilter; 6) label that can be attached to a nucleotide; 7) at least one miRNA probe; 8) reaction buffer; 9) an miRNA array or components for making such an array; 10) acetic acid; 11) alcohol; 12) solutions for preparing, isolating, enriching, and purifying miRNAs or miRNA probes or arrays. Other reagents include those generally used for manipulating RNA, such as formamide, loading dye, ribonuclease inhibitors, and DNase. Buffers, as well as other solutions, are contemplated to have a pH of about, at least about, or at most about 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 9.0 or more (or any range derivable therein) in certain embodiments of the invention.

Poly(A) polymerase may be from any source, but specifically contemplated is a poly(A) polymerase from yeast or E. coli, which may be recombinant or purified from the organism. A reaction buffer for poly(A) polymerase may be included in any kit of the invention. Typically, such a poly(A) polymerase reaction buffer includes a volume exclusion reagent, such as PEG, magnesium, and sodium. In certain embodiments, the poly(A) polymerase reaction buffer in the kit contains at least: about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15% or more (or any range derivable therein) PEG; about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 mM or more MgCl₂ (or any range derivable therein); about 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 mM NaCl (or any range derivable therein); about 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150 mM or more MES (or any range derivable therein); and about 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4 mM or more DTT (or any range derivable therein). The kits may also include a manganese source, which may be included as a separate component of a kit or in a solution or buffer with other components, such as in the reaction buffer. It is contemplated that about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 mM or more of MnCl₂ is included in the kit.

Nucleotides may also be included in kits of the invention. Nucleotides may be for DNA or RNA. Concentrations of a nucleotide or of a nucleotide mix (total concentration of all nucleotides) include, but are not limited to, about, at least about, or at most about 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0, 9.5, 10.0 mM or more (or any range derivable therein). Moreover, they may be modified or not modified. If they are modified, they may have a reactive group or they may have a label attached to it. In certain embodiments, one or more nucleotides in a kit has a reactive group, such as an amine-reactive group. In other embodiments, a nucleotide is already labeled. It may be labeled with a chemiluminescent or fluorescent label, such as a dye. Specifically contemplated are amine-reactive dyes. Moreover, it is specifically contemplated that kits may or may not contain both modified and unmodified nucleotides. Also, kits may contain the label that will be attached to the nucleotide. Any label that can be attached to a nucleotide, as well as any specifically identified herein, can be included in kits of the invention.

Other solutions that may be included in a kit are those solutions involved in isolating and/or enriching miRNA from a mixed sample. A lysis solution may comprise a chaotropic salt, a detergent, a salt, and/or a reducing agent. In certain embodiments, a lysis solution contains one or more of the following: about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 M guanidinium thiocyanate (or any range derivable therein); about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0% or more N lauryl sarcosine (or any range derivable therein); about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 mM or more NaCitrate; and/or, about 0.0.5, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 M or more 2-mercaptoethanol (or any range derivable therein). Wash solutions that may be contained in kits include wash solutions having a chaotropic salt and ethanol and wash solutions having a salt and buffer. In specific embodiments wash solutions include: about 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 M or more guanidinium thiocyanate (or any range derivable therein) and/or 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60% or more ethanol (or any range derivable therein). Other wash solutions can include: about 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150 mM NaCl (or any range derivable therein); 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0 mM or more EDTA (or any range derivable therein); about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 mM or more Tris (or any range derivable therein).

It is also contemplated that reagents for purifying miRNA using gel or tube electrophoresis can be included in kits of the invention.

A variety of microfilters can be used, and specifically contemplated in some embodiments of the invention is a glass fiber or silica filter column. Solutions that can be used with such microfilters include a binding buffer and/or wash buffer. In certain embodiments the binding buffer includes a salt and an alcohol. In particular cases, the binding or washing buffer has about 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0 M or more NaCl (or any range derivable therein) and/or about 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90% or more ethanol (or any range derivable therein).

Reagents and materials for preparing miRNA arrays can be included in a kit. The solid support for an array can be included in a kit, such as one or more slides. A kit may contain slide wash buffer, which in some embodiments includes a salt, buffer, and/or detergent. In certain embodiments, the slide wash buffer has about 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200 mM or more NaCl (or any range derivable therein); 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150 mM or more Tris (or any range derivable therein); and/or, 0.05. 0.06. 0.07. 0.08. 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.02% or more Tween 20 (or any range derivable therein). Kits may include one or more miRNA probes described herein for use on an array.

Reagents for using miRNA arrays are also contemplated to be included as kit components. In some embodiments, there is a hybridization solution and/or an array wash solution. Such solutions can contain about 1.5, 2.0, 2.3, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0× or more SSC (or any range derivable therein).

Kits may comprise components, which may be individually packaged or placed in a container, such as a tube, bottle, vial, syringe, or other suitable container means.

Individual components may also be provided in a kit in concentrated amounts; in some embodiments, a component is provided individually in the same concentration as it would be in a solution with other components. Concentrations of components may be provided as 1×, 2×, 5×, 10×, or 20× or more.

Kits for using miRNA arrays of the invention for therapeutic, prognostic, or diagnostic applications are included as part of the invention. Such kits can include an miRNA array, as well as information regarding a standard or normalized miRNA profile for the miRNAs on the array.

Control RNA or DNA is included in some kit embodiments. Control RNA is miRNA that can be used as a positive control for labeling and/or array analysis.

Other embodiments of the invention involve a system and/or apparatus for electrophoresis of a sample to isolate nucleic acids. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a micro-electrophoresis apparatus. The micro-electrophoresis apparatus of the present invention may be used to isolate any nucleic acid molecules. In some embodiments, the apparatus is used to isolate miRNA or other small nucleic acid molecules. In one embodiment, the micro-electrophoresis apparatus comprises: an upper buffer chamber electronically coupled to a negative electrode; a lower buffer collection chamber electronically coupled to a positive electrode; and a gel matrix disposed between the upper buffer chamber and the lower buffer collection chamber. In one embodiment, the micro-electrophoresis apparatus is the flashPAGE Fractionator (Ambion, Inc.).

In certain embodiments, the upper buffer chamber has a volume equal to or less than about 10 milliliters (ml). In certain aspects, the upper buffer chamber has a volume equal to or less than about 9 ml, 8 ml, 7 ml, 6 ml, 5 ml, 4 ml, 3 ml, 2 ml, 1 ml, or 500 microliters (μl). In certain embodiments, the lower buffer collection chamber has a volume equal to or less than about 10 ml. In certain aspects, the lower buffer collection chamber has a volume equal to or less than about 9 ml, 8 ml, 7 ml, 6 ml, 5 ml, 4 ml, 3 ml, 2 ml, 1 ml, or 500 μl.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the gel matrix is a polyacrylamide gel matrix. The gel matrix may be a pre-cast gel matrix such as flashPAGE Pre-Cast Gel cartridges (Ambion, Inc.).

The micro-electrophoresis apparatus of the present invention may be configured to operate on any low-current DC power source. For example, the apparatus may operate on a 50-100 V and 2-5 mA DC source.

Any embodiments discussed with respect to compositions and methods of the invention, as well as any embodiments in the Examples, is specifically contemplated as being part of a kit.

It is contemplated that any method or composition described herein can be implemented with respect to any other method or composition described herein.

Throughout this application, the term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standard deviation of error for the device or method being employed to determine the value.

The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more than one.”

It is specifically contemplated that any embodiments described in the Examples section are included as an embodiment of the invention.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating specific embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein.

FIG. 1. Overview of miRNA Expression and Activation. miRNAs are transcribed as part of longer RNA molecules that can be as long as a thousand nucleotides (Lee, 2002). The RNAs are processed in the nucleus into hairpin RNAs of 70-100 nucleotides by the dsRNA-specific ribonuclease Drosha (Lee 2003) (FIG. 1). The hairpin RNAs are transported to the cytoplasm and digested by a second, double-strand specific ribonuclease called Dicer. The resulting 19-23mer miRNA is bound by a complex that is similar to or identical to the RNA-Induced Silencing Complex (RISC) that participates in RNA interference (Hutvagner 2002). The complex-bound, single-stranded miRNA binds mRNAs with sequences that are significantly, though not completely, complementary to the miRNA. By a mechanism that is not fully understood, but that does not involve mRNA degradation, the bound mRNA is not translated, resulting in reduced expression of the corresponding gene.

FIG. 2. Schematic for the miRNArray labeling procedure. Isolated miRNA is tailed using the Poly(A) Polymerase. The tailing reaction incorporates an amine modified nucleotide that can react with an amine-reactive dye molecule like Cy3-NHS ester or Cy5 NHS-ester. The labeled miRNA sample is hybridized to probes that are arrayed on a solid support like a glass slide. Gel matrices and filters could also be used as the solid support. The signal from the labeled and hybridized miRNAs are visualized and used to estimate the amount of miRNA in the sample.

FIG. 3. Impact of probe length on miRNArray performance. DNA probes with a domains complementary to several different miRNAs were prepared and arrayed. Each probe had a unique linker length between the terminal attachment group and the sequence complementary to the miRNA. The miRNA from a total RNA was labeled and hybridized to the arrays and the signal from the various probes was quantified and plotted. The graph is representative of the data in that longer linkers with a 3′ attachment provided greater signal intensity.

FIG. 4. miRNArray reproducibility. A human colon total RNA sample was split six ways and each aliquot was processed and labeled using the miRNArray system. The labeled samples were compared to a similarly prepared human prostate sample. The average differential expression between the colon and prostate samples for each of the six replicates was determined. The average differential expression fro each miRNA is plotted with error bars. The average correlation for six replicates was 98% showing the highly reproducible nature of the miRNArray system.

FIG. 5. Confirmation of miRNArray results using ribonuclease protection assay (RPA). miRNArray analysis was used to compare the miRNA expression profiles of 9 human tissues to an “average” sample comprising 24 human tissues. The relative expression of three miRNAs in the 9 tissues are plotted in the bar graphs wherein 100% is the measured expression of each miRNA in the average sample. The levels of the three miRNAs were also measured in the nine samples using the mirVana miRNA detection kit (Ambion) using the manufacturer's recommended procedure. The miRNA product bands are displayed in the autoradiographs above each miRNArray bar graph. Panel A. RPA and miRNArray results for miR-200b expression. Panel B. RPA and miRNArray for miR-16 expression. Panel C. RPA and miRNArray for let-7 expression. The expression profiles for the three miRNAs across the nine samples are very similar, providing independent confirmation that the miRNArrays are providing accurate quantification of the miRNAs in a sample.

FIG. 6. Lung tumor/NAT samples. miRNArrays on tumor and normal adjacent tissues from 7 different lung tumor patients revealed a number of miRNAs that were differentially expressed between the tumor and normal samples. The differences in expression for the most prevalent of these miRNAs were plotted as a log ratio of the differential expression. The two- to four-fold differences in expression for many of these miRNAs would be easy to detect in patient samples and could provide an effective diagnostic or prognostic tool in clinical settings.

FIG. 7. Lung tumor marker verification. Several of the miRNA markers identified as in FIG. 6 were further evaluated to verify their validity. The top chart shows array comparison data while the bottom charts shows the relative expression of the miRNAs in the tumor compared to the normal samples from the lung cancer patients. As expected, the data from the miRNArray analysis were confirmed by a second method of analysis.

FIG. 8. Colon tumor/NAT samples. miRNArrays on tumor and normal adjacent tissues from 6 different colon tumor patients revealed a number of miRNAs that were differentially expressed between the tumor and normal samples. The differences in expression for the most prevalent of these miRNAs were plotted as a log ratio of the differential expression. The two- to four-fold differences in expression for many of these miRNAs would be easy to detect in patient samples and could provide an effective diagnostic or prognostic tool in clinical settings.

FIG. 9. Tumor/NAT samples. miRNArray analysis was used to compare the miRNA expression profiles of tumors and NAT samples from patients with lung, colon, breast, thyroid, and bladder cancer. miRNAs that are expressed at higher levels in the normal than the corresponding tumor sample are noted with black boxes. miRNAs that are expressed at lower levels in the normal than the corresponding tumor sample are noted with white boxes. It is interesting to note that some miRNAs are differentially expressed in all tumors whereas others are differentially expressed in only one or two tumor types. The differentially expressed miRNAs represent potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets.

FIG. 10. Similarity of miRNA expression profiles from different regions of a single tumor. Two different tumor and normal adjacent samples from the thyroid of a single cancer patient were evaluated by miRNArray analysis. The relative expression of the miRNAs in the two tumor and NAT samples are plotted as log ratios. The two independent samples have a correlation of 92%, showing that miRNA profiles are very similar between tumor isolates. This is important when considering using an analyte like a miRNA as a diagnostic sample.

FIG. 11. miRNArray analysis of fixed tissues. Most hospitals formaldehyde fix tumor samples as part of the diagnostic process. Fixation cross-links many of the biomolecules in the sample and renders them incompatible with molecular analysis. Several tissues were removed from a mouse and either fixed or frozen. miRNAs from the fixed and frozen samples were then analyzed using the miRNArray system. A representative of these samples is shown. The top panel shows signal intensities for the various miRNA probe elements on the miRNArray. The bottom panel is a scatter plot of the signal intensities for the fixed vs frozen samples. The miRNA profiles were essentially identical between the fixed and frozen samples, indicating that miRNAs can be effectively analyzed in fixed samples. This means that miRNA diagnostic assays will be compatible with existing medical protocols. In addition, it will also be possible to perform retrospective studies using old fixed tissues that have been banked by hospitals.

FIG. 12A-E. miRNArray analysis of on degraded RNA samples. A mouse tissue sample was incubated at room temperature for various periods of time to create RNA samples that were degraded at increasing levels. The degraded (and undegraded) samples were evaluated using the miRNArray system to establish the level of tolerance for degradation that miRNA profiling can accommodate. Panel A. miRNArray analysis comparing miRNAs from sample of undegraded frozen tissue to a sample with RNA degraded for 0 minutes. Panel B. miRNArray analysis comparing miRNAs from sample of frozen tissue to sample with RNA degraded for 5 minutes. Panel C. miRNArray analysis comparing miRNAs from sample of frozen tissue to sample with RNA degraded for 20 minutes. Panel D. miRNArray analysis comparing miRNAs from sample of frozen tissue to sample with RNA degraded for 120 minutes. Panel E. Polyacrylamide gel showing extent of degradation in different samples. Interestingly, the miRNA profiles appear to be unperturbed by conditions that degrade other RNAs in a sample. This could either be because the miRNAs are bound and protected from nuclease digestion by the protein complex that uses them in cells or the miRNAs are too small to be effectively digested by nucleases. Regardless of why they are protected, the observation that miRNAs are stable increases their usefulness as diagnostic/prognostic analytes because their levels are unlikely to be affected by poor sample handling which is a problem for mRNA-based assays.

FIG. 13. miRNArray analysis of blood samples from different patients. One of the most prevalent samples used in clinics is blood. The miRNArray system was used to analyze the miRNA profiles of ten different blood donors. The three panels show the relative signal intensity from a select set of miRNAs in three of the representative patients. The data show that miRNA profiles can be obtained from blood. In addition, it is important to not the similarity in the miRNA profiles of the various donors, suggesting that different individuals have very similar miRNA expression patterns, which should make it easy to identify individuals with conditions that perturb their miRNA profiles.

FIG. 14. miRNA Expression in Lung and Colon Cancer Patients. The miRNA expression profiles of tumor vs normal adjacent tissues were compared for lung and colon cancer patients. The miRNAs are provided in rows; the patients are presented in columns. Green in the heat map shows miRNAs that are down-regulated in the tumor sample relative to the normal adjacent tissue sample, and red shows miRNAs that are up-regulated in the tumor sample relative to the normal adjacent tissue sample.

FIG. 15. Validation of miRNA Array Expression Results in Lung Cancer Patients. Total RNA samples from two lung cancer patients were analyzed for expression of miR-16, miR-21, miR-143, miR-145, and let-7 using Northern analysis. The graphs show the relative abundance of each miRNA (ratio of tumor:NAT) from the array analysis and Northern phosphoimager analysis.

FIG. 16. Some miRNAs are differentially expressed in multiple cancer types. miRNA array analysis comparing tumor and normal adjacent tissues from patients with various types of cancer was used to identify miRNAs that are differentially expressed in cancer. The percentage of patients exhibiting up- or down-regulation of a given miRNA was calculated for each cancer type. The eight that were most often differentially expressed across sample types are presented.

FIG. 17. Shown are miRNAs having >1.5-fold expression changes between both infected vs. uninfected and sensitive vs. insensitive. On the right is a cluster of the results from 2 arrays of each model.

FIG. 18. Differentially expressed miRNAs in 3 preconditioned mice relative to non-treated mice.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed to compositions and methods relating to preparation and characterization of miRNAs, as well as use of miRNAs for therapeutic, prognostic, and diagnostic applications.

I. miRNA Molecules

MicroRNA molecules (“miRNAs”) are generally 21 to 22 nucleotides in length, though lengths of 19 and up to 23 nucleotides have been reported. The miRNAs are each processed from a longer precursor RNA molecule (“precursor miRNA”). Precursor miRNAs are transcribed from non-protein-encoding genes. The precursor miRNAs have two regions of complementarity that enables them to form a stem-loop- or fold-back-like structure, which is cleaved by an enzyme called Dicer in animals. Dicer is ribonuclease III-like nuclease. The processed miRNA is typically a portion of the stem.

The processed miRNA (also referred to as “mature miRNA”) become part of a large complex to down-regulate a particular target gene. Examples of animal miRNAs include those that imperfectly basepair with the target, which halts translation (Olsen et al., 1999; Seggerson et al., 2002). SiRNA molecules also are processed by Dicer, but from a long, double-stranded RNA molecule. SiRNAs are not naturally found in animal cells, but they can function in such cells in a RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) to direct the sequence-specific cleavage of an mRNA target (Denli et al., 2003).

A. Nucleic Acids

The present invention concerns miRNAs that can be labeled, used in array analysis, or employed in diagnostic, therapeutic, or prognostic applications. The RNA may have been endogenously produced by a cell, or been synthesized or produced chemically or recombinantly. They may be isolated and/or purified. The term “miRNA,” unless otherwise indicated, refers to the processed RNA, after it has been cleaved from its precursor. Table 1 indicates which SEQ ID NO corresponds to the particular precursor sequence of an miRNA and what sequences within the SEQ ID NO correspond to the mature sequence. The name of the miRNA is often abbreviated and referred to without the prefix and will be understood as such, depending on the context. Unless otherwise indicated, miRNAs referred to in the application are human sequences identified as mir-X or let-X, where X is a number and/or letter.

In certain experiments, an miRNA probe designated by a suffix “5P” or “3P” can be used. “5P” indicates that the mature miRNA derives from the 5′ end of the precursor and a corresponding “3P” indicates that it derives from the 3′ end of the precursor, as described on the world wide web at sanger.ac.uk/cgi-bin/rfam/mirna. Moreover, in some embodiments, an miRNA probe is used that does not correspond to a known human miRNA. It is contemplated that these non-human miRNA probes may be used in embodiments of the invention or that there may exist a human miRNA that is homologous to the non-human miRNA. While the invention is not limited to human miRNA, in certain embodiments, miRNA from human cells or a human biological sample is evaluated. In other embodiments, any mammalian cell or biological sample may be employed.

In some embodiments of the invention, methods and compositions involving miRNA may concern miRNA and/or other nucleic acids. Nucleic acids may be, be at least, or be at most 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360, 370, 380, 390, 400, 410, 420, 430, 440, 441, 450, 460, 470, 480, 490, 500, 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560, 570, 580, 590, 600, 610, 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680, 690, 700, 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 770, 780, 790, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, 860, 870, 880, 890, 900, 910, 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, 970, 980, 990, or 1000 nucleotides, or any range derivable therein, in length. Such lengths cover the lengths of processed miRNA, miRNA probes, precursor miRNA, control nucleic acids, and other probes and primers. In many embodiments, miRNA are 19-24 nucleotides in length, while miRNA probes are 19-35 nucleotides in length, depending on the length of the processed miRNA and any flanking regions added. miRNA precursors are generally between 62 and 110 nucleotides in humans.

Nucleic acids of the invention may have regions of identity or complementarity to another nucleic acid. It is contemplated that the region of complementarity or identity can be at least 5 contiguous residues, though it is specifically contemplated that the region is, is at least, or is at most 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360, 370, 380, 390, 400, 410, 420, 430, 440, 441, 450, 460, 470, 480, 490, 500, 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560, 570, 580, 590, 600, 610, 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680, 690, 700, 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 770, 780, 790, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, 860, 870, 880, 890, 900, 910, 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, 970, 980, 990, or 1000 contiguous nucleotides. It is further understood that the length of complementarity within a precursor miRNA or between an miRNA probe and an miRNA or an miRNA gene are such lengths. Moreover, the complementarity may be expressed as a percentage, meaning that the complementarity between a probe and its target is 90% or greater over the length of the probe. On some embodiments, complementarity is or is at least 90%, 95% or 100%. In particular, such lengths may be applied to any SEQ ID NO identified in any of SEQ ID NO:1 through SEQ ID NO:898, inclusive (“SEQ ID NO:1-SEQ ID NO:898”) or any other sequence disclosed herein. Each of these SEQ ID NOs is disclosed in the tables below. The tables list known human miRNAs (Table 1A), mouse miRNAs (Table 2), and rat miRNAs (Table 3). In the tables, the commonly used name of the miRNA is given (with its identifying source in the prefix, for example, “hsa” for human sequences), the miRNA precursor sequence as identified in the corresponding SEQ ID NO:, and the processed miRNA sequence relative to the nucleotides identified in the miRNA precursor sequence. Unless otherwise indicated, an miRNA without a prefix will understood to refer to a human miRNA. An miRNA designated, for example, as miR-1-2 in the application will be understood to refer to hsa-mir-1-2 below. Moreover, a lowercase letter in the table below may or may not be lowercase; for example, hsa-mir-130b can also be referred to as miR-130B. In addition, miRNA sequences with a “mu” or “mmu” sequence will be understood to refer to a mouse miRNA.

TABLE 1A Human miRNA Sequences Processed Sequence miRNA name Precursor Relative to Precursor hsa-mir-1-2 SEQ ID NO: 1 53-73 hsa-mir-1-1 SEQ ID NO: 2 46-66 hsa-let-7a-1 SEQ ID NO: 3  6-27 hsa-let-7a-2 SEQ ID NO: 4  5-26 hsa-let-7a-3 SEQ ID NO: 5  4-25 hsa-let-7b SEQ ID NO: 6  6-27 hsa-let-7c SEQ ID NO: 7 11-32 hsa-let-7d SEQ ID NO: 8  8-28 hsa-let-7e SEQ ID NO: 9  8-28 hsa-let-7f-1 SEQ ID NO: 10  7-28 hsa-let-7f-2 SEQ ID NO: 11  8-29 hsa-mir-7-1 SEQ ID NO: 12 24-44 hsa-mir-7-2 SEQ ID NO: 13 32-52 hsa-mir-7-3 SEQ ID NO: 14 31-51 hsa-let-7g SEQ ID NO: 15  5-25 hsa-let-7i SEQ ID NO: 16  6-24 hsa-mir-9-1 SEQ ID NO: 17 16-38 and/or 56-76 hsa-mir-9-2 SEQ ID NO: 18 16-38 and/or 54-74 hsa-mir-9-3 SEQ ID NO: 19 16-38 and/or 56-76 hsa-mir-10a SEQ ID NO: 20 22-44 hsa-mir-10b SEQ ID NO: 21 27-48 hsa-mir-15a SEQ ID NO: 22 14-35 hsa-mir-15b SEQ ID NO: 23 20-41 hsa-mir-16-1 SEQ ID NO: 24 14-35 hsa-mir-16-2 SEQ ID NO: 25 10-31 hsa-mir-17 SEQ ID NO: 26 14-37 and/or 51-70 hsa-mir-18 SEQ ID NO: 27  6-27 hsa-mir-19a SEQ ID NO: 28 49-71 hsa-mir-19b-1 SEQ ID NO: 29 54-76 hsa-mir-19b-2 SEQ ID NO: 30 62-84 hsa-mir-20 SEQ ID NO: 31  8-29 hsa-mir-21 SEQ ID NO: 32  8-29 hsa-mir-22 SEQ ID NO: 33 53-74 hsa-mir-23a SEQ ID NO: 34 45-65 hsa-mir-23b SEQ ID NO: 35 58-80 hsa-mir-24-1 SEQ ID NO: 36  6-28 and/or 44-65 hsa-mir-24-2 SEQ ID NO: 37 50-71 hsa-mir-25 SEQ ID NO: 38 52-73 hsa-mir-26a-1 SEQ ID NO: 39 10-31 hsa-mir-26b SEQ ID NO: 40 12-32 hsa-mir-26a-2 SEQ ID NO: 41 14-35 hsa-mir-27a SEQ ID NO: 42 51-72 hsa-mir-27b SEQ ID NO: 43 61-80 hsa-mir-28 SEQ ID NO: 44 14-35 hsa-mir-29a SEQ ID NO: 45 41-62 hsa-mir-29b-1 SEQ ID NO: 46 51-70 hsa-mir-29b-2 SEQ ID NO: 47 52-71 hsa-mir-29c SEQ ID NO: 48 54-75 hsa-mir-30a SEQ ID NO: 49 47-68 hsa-mir-30c-2 SEQ ID NO: 50  7-29 hsa-mir-30d SEQ ID NO: 51  6-27 hsa-mir-30b SEQ ID NO: 52 17-37 hsa-mir-30c-1 SEQ ID NO: 53 17-39 hsa-mir-30e SEQ ID NO: 54  2-21 hsa-mir-31 SEQ ID NO: 55  9-29 hsa-mir-32 SEQ ID NO: 56  6-26 hsa-mir-33 SEQ ID NO: 57  6-24 hsa-mir-34a SEQ ID NO: 58 22-43 hsa-mir-34b SEQ ID NO: 59 14-35 hsa-mir-34c SEQ ID NO: 60 13-34 hsa-mir-92-1 SEQ ID NO: 61 48-69 hsa-mir-92-2 SEQ ID NO: 62 48-69 hsa-mir-93 SEQ ID NO: 63 12-33 hsa-mir-95 SEQ ID NO: 64 49-70 hsa-mir-96 SEQ ID NO: 65  9-30 hsa-mir-98 SEQ ID NO: 66  2-23 hsa-mir-99a SEQ ID NO: 67 13-34 hsa-mir-99b SEQ ID NO: 68  7-28 hsa-mir-100 SEQ ID NO: 69 13-34 hsa-mir-101-1 SEQ ID NO: 70 47-68 hsa-mir-101-2 SEQ ID NO: 71 49-70 hsa-mir-103-2 SEQ ID NO: 72 48-70 hsa-mir-103-1 SEQ ID NO: 73 48-70 hsa-mir-105-1 SEQ ID NO: 74 13-32 hsa-mir-105-2 SEQ ID NO: 75 13-32 hsa-mir-106a SEQ ID NO: 76 13-36 hsa-mir-106b SEQ ID NO: 77 12-32 hsa-mir-107 SEQ ID NO: 78 50-72 hsa-mir-122a SEQ ID NO: 79 15-37 hsa-mir-124a-1 SEQ ID NO: 80 52-73 hsa-mir-124a-2 SEQ ID NO: 81 61-82 hsa-mir-124a-3 SEQ ID NO: 82 52-73 hsa-mir-125b-1 SEQ ID NO: 83 15-36 hsa-mir-125a SEQ ID NO: 84 15-37 hsa-mir-125b-2 SEQ ID NO: 85 17-38 hsa-mir-126 SEQ ID NO: 86 15-35 and/or 52-72 hsa-mir-127 SEQ ID NO: 87 57-78 hsa-mir-128a SEQ ID NO: 88 50-71 hsa-mir-128b SEQ ID NO: 89 52-73 hsa-mir-129-2 SEQ ID NO: 90 15-35 hsa-mir-130a SEQ ID NO: 91 55-74 hsa-mir-130b SEQ ID NO: 92 51-72 hsa-mir-132 SEQ ID NO: 93 59-80 hsa-mir-133a-1 SEQ ID NO: 94 54-75 hsa-mir-133a-2 SEQ ID NO: 95 60-81 hsa-mir-133b SEQ ID NO: 96 67-87 hsa-mir-134 SEQ ID NO: 97  8-28 hsa-mir-135a-1 SEQ ID NO: 98 17-39 hsa-mir-135a-2 SEQ ID NO: 99 23-45 hsa-mir-135b SEQ ID NO: 100 16-37 hsa-mir-136 SEQ ID NO: 101 15-37 hsa-mir-137 SEQ ID NO: 102 60-81 hsa-mir-138-2 SEQ ID NO: 103 10-26 hsa-mir-138-1 SEQ ID NO: 104 23-39 hsa-mir-139 SEQ ID NO: 105  7-24 hsa-mir-140 SEQ ID NO: 106 24-44 hsa-mir-141 SEQ ID NO: 107 60-80 hsa-mir-142 SEQ ID NO: 108 16-35 and/or 52-74 hsa-mir-143 SEQ ID NO: 109 61-82 hsa-mir-144 SEQ ID NO: 110 52-73 hsa-mir-145 SEQ ID NO: 111 16-39 hsa-mir-146 SEQ ID NO: 112 21-42 hsa-mir-147 SEQ ID NO: 113 47-66 hsa-mir-148a SEQ ID NO: 114 44-65 hsa-mir-148b SEQ ID NO: 115 63-84 hsa-mir-149 SEQ ID NO: 116 15-36 hsa-mir-150 SEQ ID NO: 117 16-37 hsa-mir-151 SEQ ID NO: 118 46-67 hsa-mir-152 SEQ ID NO: 119 54-74 hsa-mir-153-1 SEQ ID NO: 120 54-73 hsa-mir-153-2 SEQ ID NO: 121 53-72 hsa-mir-154 SEQ ID NO: 122 15-36 hsa-mir-155 SEQ ID NO: 123  4-25 hsa-mir-181a SEQ ID NO: 124 39-61 hsa-mir-181b-1 SEQ ID NO: 125 36-59 hsa-mir-181c SEQ ID NO: 126 27-48 hsa-mir-181b-2 SEQ ID NO: 127 16-39 hsa-mir-182 SEQ ID NO: 128 23-44 and/or 67-87 hsa-mir-183 SEQ ID NO: 129 27-49 hsa-mir-184 SEQ ID NO: 130 53-74 hsa-mir-185 SEQ ID NO: 131 15-32 hsa-mir-186 SEQ ID NO: 132 15-37 hsa-mir-187 SEQ ID NO: 133 71-91 hsa-mir-188 SEQ ID NO: 134 15-36 hsa-mir-190 SEQ ID NO: 135 15-36 hsa-mir-191 SEQ ID NO: 136 16-37 hsa-mir-192 SEQ ID NO: 137 24-44 hsa-mir-193 SEQ ID NO: 138 55-75 hsa-mir-194-1 SEQ ID NO: 139 15-36 hsa-mir-194-2 SEQ ID NO: 140 15-36 hsa-mir-195 SEQ ID NO: 141 15-35 hsa-mir-196-1 SEQ ID NO: 142  7-27 hsa-mir-196-2 SEQ ID NO: 143 25-45 hsa-mir-197 SEQ ID NO: 144 48-69 hsa-mir-198 SEQ ID NO: 145  6-24 hsa-mir-199a-1 SEQ ID NO: 146  6-28 and/or 46-67 hsa-mir-199a-2 SEQ ID NO: 147 31-53 and/or 69-90 hsa-mir-199b SEQ ID NO: 148 26-48 hsa-mir-200b SEQ ID NO: 149 54-77 hsa-mir-200c SEQ ID NO: 150 45-66 hsa-mir-200a SEQ ID NO: 151 54-75 hsa-mir-203 SEQ ID NO: 152 65-86 hsa-mir-204 SEQ ID NO: 153 33-54 hsa-mir-205 SEQ ID NO: 154 34-55 hsa-mir-206 SEQ ID NO: 155 53-74 hsa-mir-208 SEQ ID NO: 156 44-65 hsa-mir-210 SEQ ID NO: 157 66-86 hsa-mir-211 SEQ ID NO: 158 26-47 hsa-mir-212 SEQ ID NO: 159 71-91 hsa-mir-213 SEQ ID NO: 160 24-46 and/or 64-85 hsa-mir-214 SEQ ID NO: 161 71-91 hsa-mir-215 SEQ ID NO: 162 27-47 hsa-mir-216 SEQ ID NO: 163 19-39 hsa-mir-217 SEQ ID NO: 164 35-58 hsa-mir-218-1 SEQ ID NO: 165 25-45 hsa-mir-218-2 SEQ ID NO: 166 25-45 hsa-mir-219-1 SEQ ID NO: 167 21-41 hsa-mir-219-2 SEQ ID NO: 168 19-39 hsa-mir-220 SEQ ID NO: 169 23-43 hsa-mir-221 SEQ ID NO: 170 65-87 hsa-mir-222 SEQ ID NO: 171 69-92 hsa-mir-223 SEQ ID NO: 172 68-88 hsa-mir-224 SEQ ID NO: 173  8-30 hsa-mir-296 SEQ ID NO: 174 14-34 hsa-mir-299 SEQ ID NO: 175  7-28 hsa-mir-301 SEQ ID NO: 176 51-73 hsa-mir-302 SEQ ID NO: 177 44-66 hsa-mir-320 SEQ ID NO: 178 48-70 hsa-mir-321 SEQ ID NO: 179 10-30 hsa-mir-323 SEQ ID NO: 180 50-71 hsa-mir-324 SEQ ID NO: 181 16-38 and/or 51-72 hsa-mir-326 SEQ ID NO: 182 60-79 hsa-mir-328 SEQ ID NO: 183 48-69 hsa-mir-330 SEQ ID NO: 184 57-79 hsa-mir-331 SEQ ID NO: 185 61-81 hsa-mir-335 SEQ ID NO: 186 16-38 hsa-mir-337 SEQ ID NO: 187 56-78 hsa-mir-338 SEQ ID NO: 188 42-64 hsa-mir-339 SEQ ID NO: 189 15-35 hsa-mir-340 SEQ ID NO: 190 58-80 hsa-mir-342 SEQ ID NO: 191 61-84 hsa-mir-345 SEQ ID NO: 573 17-37 hsa-mir-346 SEQ ID NO: 574  4-26 hsa-mir-367 SEQ ID NO: 575 44-65 hsa-mir-368 SEQ ID NO: 576 44-65 hsa-mir-369 SEQ ID NO: 577 44-64 hsa-mir-370 SEQ ID NO: 578 48-68 hsa-mir-371 SEQ ID NO: 579 44-64 hsa-mir-372 SEQ ID NO: 580 42-64 hsa-mir-373 SEQ ID NO: 581 44-66 hsa-mir-374 SEQ ID NO: 582 12-33 hsa-mir-375 SEQ ID NO: 677 40-61 hsa-mir-376a SEQ ID NO: 678 44-64 hsa-mir-377 SEQ ID NO: 679 45-66 hsa-mir-378 SEQ ID NO: 680 5-26 and 44-65 hsa-mir-379 SEQ ID NO: 681  6-24 hsa-mir-380 SEQ ID NO: 682 5-26 and 40-61 hsa-mir-381 SEQ ID NO: 683 49-70 hsa-mir-382 SEQ ID NO: 684 11-32 hsa-mir-383 SEQ ID NO: 685  7-28 hsa-mir-384 SEQ ID NO: 686 57-76 hsa-mir-422a SEQ ID NO: 687 11-32 hsa-mir-423 SEQ ID NO: 688 53-74 hsa-mir-424 SEQ ID NO: 689 11-32 hsa-mir-425 SEQ ID NO: 690 55-75 hsa-mir-448 SEQ ID NO: 691 71-92 hsa-mir-429 SEQ ID NO: 692 51-72 hsa-mir-449 SEQ ID NO: 693 16-37 hsa-mir-450 SEQ ID NO: 694 17-38 Has-mir-361 SEQ ID NO: 899  6-27

The term “miRNA probe” refers to a nucleic acid probe that can identify a particular miRNA or structurally related miRNAs. Table 1B shows what probe was used to identify or screen for which miRNA. Table 1C provides the sequence of the probe. It is contemplated that all or part of any of the probes disclosed in Tables 1B or 1C can be implemented in any embodiments of the invention involving miRNA probes. Moreover, any of the miRNA identified in Table 1B may be screened for or profiled in embodiments of the invention.

TABLE 1B miRNA Probe miRNA Probe miRNA Probe hsa-mir-1-2 miR1_2 hsa-mir-24-1 miR24_1 hsa-mir-101-2 miR101_1 hsa-mir-1-1 miR1_2 hsa-mir-24-2 miR24_1 hsa-mir-103-2 miR103_1 hsa-let-7a-1 let7a_1 hsa-mir-25 miR25 hsa-mir-103-1 miR103_1 hsa-let-7a-2 let7a_1 hsa-mir-26a-1 miR26a_1 hsa-mir-105-1 miR105_1 hsa-let-7a-3 let7a_1 hsa-mir-26b miR26a_1 hsa-mir-105-2 miR105_1 hsa-let-7b let7b hsa-mir-26a-2 miR26a_1 hsa-mir-106a miR106a hsa-let-7c let7c hsa-mir-27a miR27a hsa-mir-106b miR106a hsa-let-7d let7d hsa-mir-27b miR27a hsa-mir-107 miR107 hsa-let-7e let7e hsa-mir-28 miR28 hsa-mir-122a miR122a hsa-let-7f-1 let7f_1 hsa-mir-29a miR29b hsa-mir-124a-1 miR124a_1 hsa-let-7f-2 let7f_2 hsa-mir-29b-1 miR29b hsa-mir-124a-2 miR124a_1 hsa-mir-7-1 miR7_1 hsa-mir-29b-2 miR29b hsa-mir-124a-3 miR124a_1 hsa-mir-7-2 miR7_1 hsa-mir-29c miR29b hsa-mir-125b-1 miR125b_1 hsa-mir-7-3 miR7_1 hsa-mir-30a miR30a hsa-mir-125a miR125a hsa-let-7g let7g hsa-mir-30c-2 miR30a hsa-mir-125b-2 miR125b_1 hsa-let-7i let7i hsa-mir-30d miR30a hsa-mir-126 miR126 hsa-mir-9-1 miR9_1 hsa-mir-30b miR30b hsa-mir-127 miR127 hsa-mir-9-2 miR9_1 hsa-mir-30c-1 miR30a hsa-mir-128a miR128a hsa-mir-9-3 miR9_1 hsa-mir-30e miR30b hsa-mir-128b miR128a hsa-mir-10a miR10a hsa-mir-31 miR31 hsa-mir-129-2 miR129_2 hsa-mir-10b miR10a hsa-mir-32 miR32 hsa-mir-130a miR130a hsa-mir-15a miR15a hsa-mir-33 miR33 hsa-mir-130b miR130b hsa-mir-15b miR15b hsa-mir-34a miR34a hsa-mir-132 miR132 hsa-mir-16-1 miR16_1 hsa-mir-34b miR34b hsa-mir-133a-1 miR133a_1 hsa-mir-16-2 miR16_1 hsa-mir-34c miR34b hsa-mir-133a-2 miR133a_1 hsa-mir-17 miR17_3p hsa-mir-92-1 miR92_1 hsa-mir-133b miR133a_1 hsa-mir-18 miR18 hsa-mir-92-2 miR92_1 hsa-mir-134 miR134 hsa-mir-19a miR19a hsa-mir-93 miR93 hsa-mir-135a-1 miR135a_1 hsa-mir-19b-1 miR19a hsa-mir-95 miR95 hsa-mir-135a-2 miR135a_1 hsa-mir-19b-2 miR19a hsa-mir-96 miR96 hsa-mir-135b miR135a_1 hsa-mir-20 miR20 hsa-mir-98 miR98 hsa-mir-136 miR136 hsa-mir-21 miR21 hsa-mir-99a miR99a hsa-mir-101-2 miR101_1 hsa-mir-22 miR22 hsa-mir-99b miR99b hsa-mir-103-2 miR103_1 hsa-mir-23a miR23a hsa-mir-100 miR100 hsa-mir-103-1 miR103_1 hsa-mir-23b miR23b hsa-mir-101-1 miR101_1 hsa-mir-105-1 miR105_1 hsa-mir-137 miR137 hsa-mir-191 miR191 hsa-mir-221 miR221 hsa-mir-138-2 miR138_1 hsa-mir-192 miR192 hsa-mir-222 miR222 hsa-mir-138-1 miR138_1 hsa-mir-193 miR193 hsa-mir-223 miR223 hsa-mir-139 miR139 hsa-mir-194-1 miR194_1 hsa-mir-224 miR224 hsa-mir-140 miR140 hsa-mir-194-2 miR194_1 hsa-mir-296 miR296 hsa-mir-141 miR141 hsa-mir-195 miR195 hsa-mir-299 miR299 hsa-mir-142 miR142_5p hsa-mir-196-1 miR196a_1 hsa-mir-301 miR301 hsa-mir-143 miR143 hsa-mir-196-2 miR196a_1 hsa-mir-302 miR302a hsa-mir-144 miR144 hsa-mir-197 miR197 hsa-mir-320 miR320 hsa-mir-145 miR145 hsa-mir-198 miR198 hsa-mir-323 miR323 hsa-mir-146 miR146 hsa-mir-199a-1 miR199a_1 hsa-mir-324 miR324_3p hsa-mir-147 miR147 hsa-mir-199a-2 miR199a_1 hsa-mir-326 miR326 hsa-mir-148a miR148a hsa-mir-199b miR199a_1 hsa-mir-328 miR328 hsa-mir-148b miR148a hsa-mir-200b miR200b hsa-mir-330 miR330 hsa-mir-149 miR149 hsa-mir-200c miR200a hsa-mir-331 miR331 hsa-mir-150 miR150 hsa-mir-200a miR200a hsa-mir-335 miR335 hsa-mir-151 miR151 hsa-mir-203 miR203 hsa-mir-337 miR337 hsa-mir-152 miR152 hsa-mir-204 miR204 hsa-mir-338 miR338 hsa-mir-153-1 miR153_1 hsa-mir-205 miR205 hsa-mir-339 miR339 hsa-mir-153-2 miR153_1 hsa-mir-206 miR206 hsa-mir-340 miR340 hsa-mir-154 miR154 hsa-mir-208 miR208 hsa-mir-342 miR342 hsa-mir-155 miR155 hsa-mir-210 miR210 hsa-mir-345 miR345 hsa-mir-181a miR181a hsa-mir-211 miR211 hsa-mir-346 miR346 hsa-mir-181b-1 miR181b_1 hsa-mir-212 miR212 hsa-mir-367 miR367 hsa-mir-181c miR181b_1 hsa-mir-213 miR213 hsa-mir-368 miR368 hsa-mir-181b-2 miR181b_1 hsa-mir-214 miR214 hsa-mir-369 miR369 hsa-mir-182 miR182 hsa-mir-215 miR215 hsa-mir-370 miR370 hsa-mir-183 miR183 hsa-mir-216 miR216 hsa-mir-371 miR371 hsa-mir-184 miR184 hsa-mir-217 miR217 hsa-mir-372 miR372 hsa-mir-185 miR185 hsa-mir-218-1 miR218_1 hsa-mir-373 miR373 hsa-mir-186 miR186 hsa-mir-218-2 miR218_1 hsa-mir-374 miR374 hsa-mir-187 miR187 hsa-mir-219-1 miR219_1 hsa-mir-221 miR221 hsa-mir-188 miR188 hsa-mir-219-2 miR219_1 hsa-mir-222 miR222 hsa-mir-190 miR190 hsa-mir-220 miR220 hsa-mir-223 miR223 hsa-mir-137 miR137 hsa-mir-191 miR191 hsa-mir-224 miR224

TABLE 1C SEQ ID Probe name Probe Sequences NO: let7a_1 CTAAAACTATACAACCTACTACCTCATCCC 704 let7b CTGAAACCACACAACCTACTACCTCACCC 705 let7c TCTAAACCATACAACCTACTACCTCAACCC 706 let7d TAAAACTATGCAACCTACTACCTCTTCCT 707 let7d_AS CCTAAGAAAGGCAGCAGGTCGTATAGTTAA 708 let7e CTCAACTATACAACCTCCTACCTCAGCCC 709 let7f_1 CCACAACTATACAATCTACTACCTCACTCT 710 let7f_2 CTAAAACTATACAATCTACTACCTCATCCC 711 let7g TCAAACTGTACAAACTACTACCTCAGCCT 712 let7i AAACAGCACAAACTACTACCTCAGCCA 713 miR100 ATACCACAAGTTCGGATCTACGGGTTTGTG 714 miR101_1 CATCCTTCAGTTATCACAGTACTGTACCTT 715 miR103_1 TCTTTCATAGCCCTGTACAATGCTGCTTGAT 716 miR105_1 CACCACAGGAGTCTGAGCATTTGACCAC 717 miR106a AAAAGCTACCTGCACTGTAAGCACTTTTACAT 718 miR107 GCTTTGATAGCCCTGTACAATGCTGCTTGAA 719 miR10a CTTACACAAATTCGGATCTACAGGGTATATA 720 miR1_2 CAAAAATACATACTTCTTTACATTCCATAGC 721 miR122a AGACACAAACACCATTGTCACACTCCACAGC 722 miR124a_1 TTCTTGGCATTCACCGCGTGCCTTAATTGT 723 miR125a TCCTCACAGGTTAAAGGGTCTCAGGGACCTA 724 miR125b_1 AACATCACAAGTTAGGGTCTCAGGGACTGA 725 miR126 CGGCGCATTATTACTCACGGTACGAGTTT 726 miR126_AS ACAGCGCGTACCAAAAGTAATAATGTCCC 727 miR127 GACCAGCCAAGCTCAGACGGATCCGATGAT 728 miR128a CTGAAAAAGAGACCGGTTCACTGTGAGAAA 729 miR129_2 TACAGCAAGCCCAGACCGCAAAAAGATTC 730 miR130a CAATGCCCTTTTAACATTGCACTGCTAG 731 miR130b ACCGATGCCCTTTCATCATTGCACTGCTTC 732 miR132 GGGGCGACCATGGCTGTAGACTGTTACCTC 733 miR133a_1 AGCTACAGCTGGTTGAAGGGGACCAAATCC 734 miR134 ATGCCCCTCTGGTCAACCAGTCACACACC 735 m1R135a_1 AGAATCACATAGGAATAAAAAGCCATAGAGA 736 miR136 AGAATCCATCATCAAAACAAATGGAGTCCTC 737 miR137 TCGACTACGCGTATTCTTAAGCAATAACAA 738 miR138_1 GCCTGATTCACAACACCAGCTGCCC 739 miR139 CTGGAGACACGTGCACTGTAGAATAC 740 miR140 TAACCTACCATAGGGTAAAACCACTGGCA 741 miR141 GGAGCCATCTTTACCAGACAGTGTTAGGA 742 miR142_3p CTCATCCATAAAGTAGGAAACACTACACCCT 743 miR142_5p GTTAGTAGTGCTTTCTACTTTATGGGTG 744 miR143 TTCCTGAGCTACAGTGCTTCATCTCAGACT 745 miR144 CGGACTAGTACATCATCTATACTGTAGTGT 746 miR145 ATCTAAGGGATTCCTGGGAAAACTGGACCGTG 747 miR146 ACACAACCCATGGAATTCAGTTCTCAAAGC 748 miR147 TCTAGCAGAAGCATTTCCACACACTGGC 749 miR148a GAGAACAAAGTTCTGTAGTGCACTGATTCT 750 miR149 CACGGGAGTGAAGACACGGAGCCAGAGCTC 751 miR150 CCAGCACTGGTACAAGGGTTGGGAGACAGG 752 miR151 CTGTCCTCAAGGAGCTTCAGTCTAGTAGGG 753 miR152 GGGCCCAAGTTCTGTCATGCACTGACTGC 754 miR153_1 ATGATCACTTTTGTGACTATGCAACTGG 755 miR154 AAAGCGAAGGCAACACGGATAACCTATCTT 756 miR155 AAAAACCCCTATCACGATTAGCATTAACAG 757 miR15a AATCCACAAACCATTATGTGCTGCTACTTT 758 miR15b AG CATGTAAACCATGATGTG CTGCTACAGT 759 miR16_1 TTAACGCCAATATTTACGTGCTGCTAAGGC 760 miR17_3p TGCTACAAGTGCCTTCACTGCAGTAGAT 761 miR17_5p TATCACTACCTGCACTGTAAGCACTTTGACAT 762 miR18 TCACTATCTGCACTAGATGCACCTTAGAAC 763 miR181a CCAAACTCACCGACAGCGTTGAATGTTCCTT 764 miR181b_1 GTTCAACCCACCGACAGCAATGAATGTTGATT 765 miR182 CCAGTGTGAGTTCTACCATTGCCAAAAACG 766 miR182_AS CCCATAGTTGGCAAGTCTAGAACCACCGG 767 miR183 TTCACAGTGAATTCTACCAGTGCCATACACA 768 miR184 ACCTACCCTTATCAGTTCTCCGTCCAACAC 769 miR185 TCAGGAACTGCCTTTCTCTCCAATCC 770 miR186 CAGAAAGCCCAAAAGGAGAATTCTTTGGAAA 771 miR187 CCTCCGGCTGCAACACAAGACACGAGGGG 772 miR188 GCTCACCCTCCACCATGCAAGGGATGTGAG 773 miR189 GAGAACTGATATCAGCTCAGTAGGCACCGGA 774 miR190 AACAACCTAATATATCAAACATATCACACA 775 miR191 CAACAGCTGCTTTTGGGATTCCGTTGCCCG 776 miR192 CACTGGCTGTCAATTCATAGGTCAGAGCC 777 miR193 AGAACTGGGACTTTGTAGGCCAGTTGATC 778 miR194_1 ACAGTCCACATGGAGTTGCTGTTACACTTG 779 miR195 CTGTGCCAATATTTCTGTGCTGCTAGAGC 780 miR196a_1 AGGCCCAACAACATGAAACTACCTAATTC 781 miR197 CCATGCTGGGTGGAGAAGGTGGTGAAGGGT 782 miR198 GGAACCTATCTCCCCTCTGGACCAATG 783 miR199a_AS_1 GCCTAACCAATGTGCAGACTACTGTACACA 784 m1R199a_AS_2 GTCTAACCAATGTGCAGACTACTGTACAAC 785 miR199a_1 TCCTGAACAGGTAGTCTGAACACTGGGTTGG 786 miR199a_2 TCCTGAACAGGTAGTCTGAACACTGGGGCGA 787 miR19a ACCATCAGTTTTGCATAGATTTGCACAACTA 788 miR20 ACACTACCTGCACTATAAGCACTTTAGTGC 789 miR200a TTGAACATCGTTACCAGACAGTGTTAGAGT 790 miR200b CCGTCATCATTACCAGGCAGTATTAGAGACCT 791 miR201 TAGAAGAACAATGCCTTACTGAGTAAGGT 792 miR202 TCCATCTTCCCATGCGCTATACCTCTTTAG 793 miR203 GGGTCTAGTGGTCCTAAACATTTCACAATT 794 miR204 TCTCAGGCATAGGATGACAAAGGGAAGTCC 795 miR205 GAGACAGACTCCGGTGGAATGAAGGATCTG 796 miR206 GAAACCACACACTTCCTTACATTCCATAGC 797 miR207 AAGAGAGGGAGGAGAGCCAGGAGAAGCGCAA 798 miR208 ACCAACAAGCTTTTTGCTCGTCTTATACGT 799 miR21 ACAGTCAACATCAGTCTGATAAGCTACCCG 800 miR210 AGATCAGCCGCTGTCACACGCACAGTGGG 801 miR211 CCCTAGGCGAAGGATGACAAAGGGAAGCCC 802 miR212 CGGTGGCCGTGACTGGAGACTGTTACTGA 803 miR213 ATAGGGTACAATCAACGGTCGATGGTTTTG 804 miR214 GTGACTGCCTGTCTGTGCCTGCTGTACAG 805 miR215 TATTGTCTGTCAATTCATAGGTCATTTTC 806 miR216 ATCTCACAGTTGCCAGCTGAGATTAAGCC 807 miR217 TCTTATCCAATCAGTTCCTGATGCAGTATCTG 808 miR218_1 AACCACATGGTTAGATCAAGCACAACAGA 809 miR219_1 CTCGAGAATTGCGTTTGGACAATCAGGAG 810 miR22 GGCAACAGTTCTTCAACTGGCAGCTTTAGC 811 miR220 GCCCAAAGTGTCAGATACGGTGTGGAGCC 812 miR221 GCCTGAAACCCAGCAGACAATGTAGCTGTTG 813 miR222 ATCAGAGACCCAGTAGCCAGATGTAGCTGCTG 814 miR223 ACTTGGGGTATTTGACAAACTGACACTCT 815 miR224 CTACTAAACGGAACCACTAGTGACTTGAAAG 816 miR23a GGTTGGAAATCCCTGGCAATGTGATTTGT 817 miR23b TTGCGTGGTAATCCCTGGCAATGTGATTTTA 818 miR24_1 CTCCTGTTCCTGCTGAACTGAGCCAGTGTG 819 miR25 ACTGTCAGACCGAGACAAGTGCAATGCCCA 820 miR26a_1 GCACAGCCTATCCTGGATTACTTGAACGAG 821 miR27a GGGGGGCGGAACTTAGCCACTGTGAACACG 822 miR28 GTAACTCAATAGACTGTGAGCTCCTTGAGG 823 miR290 AAAAAAAAAGTGCCCCCATAGTTTGAGTACC 824 m1R291_3p CAGTGGCACACAAAGTGGAAGCACTTTCTCA 825 miR291_5p CTCAAGAGAGGGCCTCCACTTTGATGGCCG 826 miR292_3p GGTGACACTCAAAACCTGGCGGCACTTTTCT 827 miR292_5p AATCCAAAAGAGCCCCCAGTTTGAGTATCA 828 miR293 GGCAACACTACAAACTCTGCGGCACTTCTT 829 miR294 GGCAACACACAAAAGGGAAGCACTTTCCAC 830 miR295 GGAGAGACTCAAAAGTAGTAGCACTTTCTAT 831 miR296 CACAACAGGATTGAGGGGGGGCCCTCTGG 832 miR297_1 TGCACATGCACATGCACACATACATACAT 833 miR298 CAAGGGAAGAACAGCCCTCCTCTGCCAAAG 834 miR299 CAAAATGTATGTGGGACGGTAAACCATTTC 835 miR29b GAACACTGATTTCAAATGGTGCTAGACA 836 miR300 CCTCGAAGAGAGCTTGCCCTTGCATATTCA 837 miR301 AGATGCTTTGACAATACTATTGCACTGCTAG 838 miR302a CCATCACCAAAACATGGAAGCACTTACTTCT 839 miR302b_AS TCACAGAAAGCACTTCCATGTTAAAGTTGAA 840 miR302c CCTCCACTGAAACATGGAAGCACTTACTTTT 841 miR302c_AS CACACAGCAGGTACCCCCATCTTAAAGCAA 842 miR30a_3p GCAGGCTGCAAACATCCGACTGAAAGCCAT 843 miR30a_5p CACAGCTTCCAGTCGAGGATGTTTACAGTCG 844 miR30b TACAGCTGAGTGTAGGATGTTTACATGAA 845 miR31 TCAACAGCTATGCCAGCATCTTGCCTCCT 846 miR32 ACATGCAACTTAGTAATGTGCAATATCTC 847 miR320 CTTTTTCGCCCTCTCAACCCAGCTTTTCCCG 848 miR322 GGGGTGTTGCAGCGCTTCATGTTTTGAA 849 miR323 GCAAAGAGGTCGACCGTGTAATGTGCGCCA 850 miR324_3p ACCCCCAGCAGCACCTGGGGCAGTGGGTCT 851 miR324_5p CTTTACACCAATGCCCTAGGGGATGCGGGGA 852 miR325 AAACACTTACTGGACACCTACTAGGAACC 853 miR326 GGGGCTGGAGGAAGGGCCCAGAGGCGAT 854 miR328 GGGGACGGAAGGGCAGAGAGGGCCAGGGGC 855 miR329 TGAAAAAAAGGTTAGCTGGGTGTGTTTCAT 856 miR33 CATGCAATGCAACTACAATGCACCACA 857 miR330 TGCCTCTCTGCAGGCCGTGTGCTTTGCTCGG 858 miR331 TTGGTTCTAGGATAGGCCCAGGGGCCTGG 859 miR337 GAAGAAAGGCATCATATAGGAGCTGGATAAC 860 miR338 TCTTCAACAAAATCACTGATGCTGGAGTCGC 861 miR339 CACGTGAGCTCCTGGAGGACAGGGAGAGC 862 miR340 GTATGGCTATAAAGTAACTGAGACGGATCC 863 miR341 GCCGACTGACCGACCGACCGATCGACCGA 864 miR342 AGGTGACGGGTGCGATTTCTGTGTGAGACAAT 865 miR344 GCTTACAGTCAGGCTTTGGCTAGATCAGGTA 866 miR345 ACGAGCCCTGGACTAGGAGTCAGCAGACC 867 miR346 AACAGAGAGGCAGGCATGCGGGCAGACAGAC 868 miR34a CACAACAACCAGCTAAGACACTGCCAAAGA 869 miR34c TTAGCAATCAGCTAACTACACTGCCTAGTA 870 miR350 AAGGGTGAAAGTGTATGGGCTTTGTGAACATT 871 miR351 ACTCCAGGCTCAAAGGGCTCCTCAGGGAAACG 872 miR367 CCATCACCATTGCTAAAGTGCAATTCCAAT 873 miR368 AAAACGTGGAATTTCCTCTATGTTTAACCA 874 miR369 GAGAAAAGATCAACCATGTATTATTCGAA 875 miR370 CAGACCAGGTTCCACCCCAGCAGGCACTCCC 876 miR371 GTAACACTCAAAAGATGGCGGCACTTTCAC 877 miR372 GTGACGCTCAAATGTCGCAGCACTTTCCACT 878 miR373 GGGACACCCCAAAATCGAAGCACTTCCCAGT 879 miR373_AS AAAAGGAAAGCGCCCCCATTTTGAGTATCC 880 miR374 ATAACACTTATCAGGTTGTATTATAATGGC 881 miR376a GAAAACGTGGATTTTCCTCTACGATTAGT 882 miR376b TGAAAAAGTGGATGTTCCTCTATGATTAT 883 miR380 AAGATGTGGACCATACTACATACGACCCA 884 miR409 CGAAAAGGGGTTCACCGAGCAACATTCGT 885 miR410 TGAAAACAGGCCATCTGTGTTATATTCGTC 886 miR411 TGATACTGAGGGTTAGTGGACCGTGTTACAT 887 miR412 ACCGACGGCTAGTGGACCAGGTGAAGTACAT 888 miR7_1 AAACAACAAAATCACTAGTCTTCCACACA 889 miR9_1 CCACTCATACAGCTAGATAACCAAAGATAAC 890 miR9_1_AS TTTTACTTTCGGTTATCTAGCTTTATGAA 891 miR92_1 CTCAACAGGCCGGGACAAGTGCAATACCAT 892 miR93 CACACTACCTGCACGAACAGCACTTTGGAG 893 miR95 TGGGTGCTCAATAAATACCCGTTGAATGTA 894 miR96 ACAAGCAAAAATGTGCTAGTGCCAAAATCG 895 miR98 ACCCCACAACAATACAACTTACTACCTCAC 896 miR99a TCACCACAAGATCGGATCTACGGGTTTATG 897 miR99b GCCCCGCAAGGTCGGTTCTACGGGTGGGTG 898

TABLE 2 Mouse miRNA Sequences Processed Sequence miRNA name Precursor Relative to Precursor mmu-mir-1-1 SEQ ID NO: 192 49-69 mmu-mir-1-2 SEQ ID NO: 193 47-67 mmu-let-7g SEQ ID NO: 194  7-27 mmu-let-7i SEQ ID NO: 195  6-24 mmu-let-7d SEQ ID NO: 196 16-36 + 70-91 mmu-let-7a-1 SEQ ID NO: 197 13-34 mmu-let-7a-2 SEQ ID NO: 198 17-38 mmu-let-7b SEQ ID NO: 199  7-28 mmu-let-7c-1 SEQ ID NO: 200 16-37 mmu-let-7c-2 SEQ ID NO: 201 14-35 mmu-let-7e SEQ ID NO: 202 15-35 mmu-let-7f-1 SEQ ID NO: 203  8-29 mmu-let-7f-2 SEQ ID NO: 204  8-29 mmu-mir-7-1 SEQ ID NO: 205 24-44 mmu-mir-7-2 SEQ ID NO: 206 19-39 mmu-mir-7b SEQ ID NO: 207 30-50 mmu-mir-9-2 SEQ ID NO: 208  8-30 and/or 46-66 mmu-mir-9-1 SEQ ID NO: 209 16-38 and/or 56-76 mmu-mir-9-3 SEQ ID NO: 210 16-38 and/or 56-76 mmu-mir-10b SEQ ID NO: 211  7-28 mmu-mir-10a-1 SEQ ID NO: 212 22-44 mmu-mir-10a-2 SEQ ID NO: 213 22-44 mmu-mir-15b SEQ ID NO: 214  4-25 mmu-mir-15a SEQ ID NO: 215 15-36 mmu-mir-16-1 SEQ ID NO: 216 16-37 mmu-mir-16-2 SEQ ID NO: 217 17-38 mmu-mir-17 SEQ ID NO: 218 14-37 and/or 51-70 mmu-mir-18 SEQ ID NO: 219 17-38 mmu-mir-19b-2 SEQ ID NO: 220 54-76 mmu-mir-19a SEQ ID NO: 221 49-71 mmu-mir-19b-1 SEQ ID NO: 222 54-76 mmu-mir-20 SEQ ID NO: 223 27-49 mmu-mir-21 SEQ ID NO: 224 18-39 mmu-mir-22 SEQ ID NO: 225 57-78 mmu-mir-23b SEQ ID NO: 226 46-68 mmu-mir-23a SEQ ID NO: 227 46-66 mmu-mir-24-1 SEQ ID NO: 228  6-28 and/or 44-65 mmu-mir-24-2 SEQ ID NO: 229 61-82 mmu-mir-25 SEQ ID NO: 230 52-73 mmu-mir-26a-1 SEQ ID NO: 231 16-37 mmu-mir-26b SEQ ID NO: 232 15-36 mmu-mir-26a-2 SEQ ID NO: 233 14-35 mmu-mir-27b SEQ ID NO: 234 49-68 mmu-mir-27a SEQ ID NO: 235 56-76 mmu-mir-28 SEQ ID NO: 236 14-35 mmu-mir-29b-1 SEQ ID NO: 237 47-68 mmu-mir-29a SEQ ID NO: 238 53-74 mmu-mir-29c SEQ ID NO: 239 54-75 mmu-mir-29b-2 SEQ ID NO: 240 52-73 mmu-mir-30a SEQ ID NO: 241 47-68 mmu-mir-30b SEQ ID NO: 242  2-22 mmu-mir-30e SEQ ID NO: 243  2-21 mmu-mir-30c-1 SEQ ID NO: 244 17-39 mmu-mir-30c-2 SEQ ID NO: 245 14-36 mmu-mir-30d SEQ ID NO: 246 12-33 mmu-mir-31 SEQ ID NO: 247 28-49 mmu-mir-32 SEQ ID NO: 248  6-26 mmu-mir-33 SEQ ID NO: 249  6-24 mmu-mir-34c SEQ ID NO: 250 13-35 mmu-mir-34b SEQ ID NO: 251 13-35 mmu-mir-34a SEQ ID NO: 252 20-42 mmu-mir-92-2 SEQ ID NO: 253 55-75 mmu-mir-92-1 SEQ ID NO: 254 50-70 mmu-mir-93 SEQ ID NO: 255 15-37 mmu-mir-96 SEQ ID NO: 256 24-46 mmu-mir-98 SEQ ID NO: 257  2-23 mmu-mir-99a SEQ ID NO: 258  6-25 mmu-mir-99b SEQ ID NO: 259  7-28 mmu-mir-100 SEQ ID NO: 260 13-34 mmu-mir-101 SEQ ID NO: 261 38-57 mmu-mir-101b SEQ ID NO: 262 61-82 mmu-mir-103-1 SEQ ID NO: 263 52-74 mmu-mir-103-2 SEQ ID NO: 264 52-74 mmu-mir-106a SEQ ID NO: 265  5-26 mmu-mir-106b SEQ ID NO: 266 12-32 mmu-mir-107 SEQ ID NO: 267 52-74 mmu-mir-122a SEQ ID NO: 268  6-28 mmu-mir-124a-3 SEQ ID NO: 269 43-64 mmu-mir-124a-1 SEQ ID NO: 270 52-73 mmu-mir-124a-2 SEQ ID NO: 271 61-82 mmu-mir-125a SEQ ID NO: 272  6-28 mmu-mir-125b-2 SEQ ID NO: 273  7-28 mmu-mir-125b-1 SEQ ID NO: 274 15-36 mmu-mir-126 SEQ ID NO: 275  9-29 and/or 46-66 mmu-mir-127 SEQ ID NO: 276 43-64 mmu-mir-128a SEQ ID NO: 277 44-65 mmu-mir-128b SEQ ID NO: 278 48-69 mmu-mir-129-1 SEQ ID NO: 279  6-27 mmu-mir-129-2 SEQ ID NO: 280 15-36 mmu-mir-130a SEQ ID NO: 281 42-61 mmu-mir-130b SEQ ID NO: 282 51-72 mmu-mir-132 SEQ ID NO: 283 42-63 mmu-mir-133a-1 SEQ ID NO: 284 44-65 mmu-mir-133a-2 SEQ ID NO: 285 60-81 mmu-mir-133b SEQ ID NO: 286 67-87 mmu-mir-134 SEQ ID NO: 287  7-27 mmu-mir-135a-1 SEQ ID NO: 288 17-39 mmu-mir-135b SEQ ID NO: 289 16-37 mmu-mir-135a-2 SEQ ID NO: 290 23-45 mmu-mir-136 SEQ ID NO: 291  5-27 mmu-mir-137 SEQ ID NO: 292 46-67 mmu-mir-138-2 SEQ ID NO: 293  2-18 mmu-mir-138-1 SEQ ID NO: 294 23-39 mmu-mir-139 SEQ ID NO: 295  7-24 mmu-mir-140 SEQ ID NO: 296  7-27 mmu-mir-141 SEQ ID NO: 297 49-69 mmu-mir-142 SEQ ID NO: 298  4-23 and/or 40-61 mmu-mir-143 SEQ ID NO: 299 40-61 mmu-mir-144 SEQ ID NO: 300 43-64 mmu-mir-145 SEQ ID NO: 301  7-30 mmu-mir-146 SEQ ID NO: 302  6-27 mmu-mir-148a SEQ ID NO: 303 61-82 mmu-mir-149 SEQ ID NO: 304  4-25 mmu-mir-150 SEQ ID NO: 305  6-27 mmu-mir-151 SEQ ID NO: 306 43-63 mmu-mir-152 SEQ ID NO: 307 47-67 mmu-mir-153 SEQ ID NO: 308 44-63 mmu-mir-154 SEQ ID NO: 309  6-27 mmu-mir-155 SEQ ID NO: 310  4-25 mmu-mir-181a SEQ ID NO: 311  7-29 mmu-mir-181b-1 SEQ ID NO: 312 12-35 mmu-mir-181c SEQ ID NO: 313 17-38 mmu-mir-181b-2 SEQ ID NO: 314 16-39 mmu-mir-182 SEQ ID NO: 315  7-28 mmu-mir-183 SEQ ID NO: 316  6-28 mmu-mir-184 SEQ ID NO: 317 45-66 mmu-mir-185 SEQ ID NO: 318  7-24 mmu-mir-186 SEQ ID NO: 319  7-29 mmu-mir-187 SEQ ID NO: 320 40-61 mmu-mir-188 SEQ ID NO: 321  6-27 mmu-mir-190 SEQ ID NO: 322  6-27 mmu-mir-191 SEQ ID NO: 323  7-28 mmu-mir-192 SEQ ID NO: 324 14-31 mmu-mir-193 SEQ ID NO: 325 41-61 mmu-mir-194-1 SEQ ID NO: 326  7-28 mmu-mir-194-2 SEQ ID NO: 327 16-37 mmu-mir-195 SEQ ID NO: 328  1-21 mmu-mir-196-1 SEQ ID NO: 329 24-44 mmu-mir-196-2 SEQ ID NO: 330 16-36 mmu-mir-199a-1 SEQ ID NO: 331  6-28 and/or 45-66 mmu-mir-199a-2 SEQ ID NO: 332 31-53 and/or 69-90 mmu-mir-199b SEQ ID NO: 333 26-48 mmu-mir-200b SEQ ID NO: 334 45-67 mmu-mir-200a SEQ ID NO: 335 54-75 mmu-mir-200c SEQ ID NO: 336 46-67 mmu-mir-201 SEQ ID NO: 337  6-26 mmu-mir-202 SEQ ID NO: 338 45-66 mmu-mir-203 SEQ ID NO: 339 49-69 mmu-mir-204 SEQ ID NO: 340  6-28 mmu-mir-205 SEQ ID NO: 341  7-28 mmu-mir-206 SEQ ID NO: 342 46-67 mmu-mir-207 SEQ ID NO: 343 52-74 mmu-mir-208 SEQ ID NO: 344 50-71 mmu-mir-210 SEQ ID NO: 345 66-86 mmu-mir-211 SEQ ID NO: 346 26-47 mmu-mir-212 SEQ ID NO: 347 56-76 mmu-mir-213 SEQ ID NO: 348 14-36 and/or 54-75 mmu-mir-214 SEQ ID NO: 349 71-91 mmu-mir-215 SEQ ID NO: 350 30-50 mmu-mir-216 SEQ ID NO: 351  7-27 mmu-mir-217 SEQ ID NO: 352 34-57 mmu-mir-218-2 SEQ ID NO: 353 25-45 mmu-mir-219-1 SEQ ID NO: 354 21-41 mmu-mir-219-2 SEQ ID NO: 355 19-39 mmu-mir-221 SEQ ID NO: 356 60-81 mmu-mir-222 SEQ ID NO: 357 49-71 mmu-mir-223 SEQ ID NO: 358 68-88 mmu-mir-224 SEQ ID NO: 359  8-30 mu-miR-290 SEQ ID NO: 360 15-37 mmu-mir-291 SEQ ID NO: 361 14-35 and/or 50-72 mmu-mir-292 SEQ ID NO: 362 12-33 and/or 51-73 mmu-mir-293 SEQ ID NO: 363 48-69 mmu-mir-294 SEQ ID NO: 364 51-72 mmu-mir-295 SEQ ID NO: 365 43-65 mmu-mir-296 SEQ ID NO: 366 13-33 mmu-mir-297-1 SEQ ID NO: 367 15-35 mmu-mir-297-2 SEQ ID NO: 368 36-56 mmu-mir-298 SEQ ID NO: 369 11-32 mmu-mir-299 SEQ ID NO: 370  7-28 mmu-mir-300 SEQ ID NO: 371 51-72 mmu-mir-301 SEQ ID NO: 372 51-73 mmu-mir-302 SEQ ID NO: 373 44-66 mmu-mir-320 SEQ ID NO: 374 48-70 mmu-mir-321 SEQ ID NO: 375 10-30 mmu-mir-323 SEQ ID NO: 376 50-71 mmu-mir-324 SEQ ID NO: 377 18-40 and/or 53-74 mmu-mir-325 SEQ ID NO: 378 16-38 mmu-mir-326 SEQ ID NO: 379 60-80 mmu-mir-328 SEQ ID NO: 380 61-82 mmu-mir-329 SEQ ID NO: 381 61-82 mmu-mir-330 SEQ ID NO: 382 61-83 mmu-mir-331 SEQ ID NO: 383 61-81 mmu-mir-337 SEQ ID NO: 384 61-83 mmu-mir-338 SEQ ID NO: 385 61-83 mmu-mir-339 SEQ ID NO: 386 16-36 mmu-mir-340 SEQ ID NO: 387 61-83 mmu-mir-341 SEQ ID NO: 388 61-81 mmu-mir-342 SEQ ID NO: 389 61-84 mmu-mir-344 SEQ ID NO: 390 61-83 mmu-mir-345 SEQ ID NO: 391 16-36 mmu-mir-346 SEQ ID NO: 392 16-38 mmu-mir-350 SEQ ID NO: 393 61-84 mmu-mir-351 SEQ ID NO: 583 16-39 mmu-mir-370 SEQ ID NO: 584 48-70 mmu-mir-376a SEQ ID NO: 585 44-64 mmu-mir-376b SEQ ID NO: 586 51-72 mmu-mir-380 SEQ ID NO: 587 40-61 mmu-mir-409 SEQ ID NO: 588 47-69 mmu-mir-410 SEQ ID NO: 589 50-71 mmu-mir-411 SEQ ID NO: 590 56-78 mmu-mir-412 SEQ ID NO: 591 50-72 mmu-mir-425 SEQ ID NO: 695 54-74 mmu-mir-429 SEQ ID NO: 696 51-72 mmu-mir-448 SEQ ID NO: 697 72-93 mmu-mir-449 SEQ ID NO: 698 16-37 mmu-mir-450 SEQ ID NO: 699 17-38

TABLE 3 Rat miRNA Sequences Processed Sequence miRNA name Precursor Relative to Precursor rno-let-7d SEQ ID NO: 394 14-34 and/or 68-89 rno-mir-7-1 SEQ ID NO: 395 19-39 and/or 61-82 rno-let-7a-1 SEQ ID NO: 396 13-34 rno-let-7a-2 SEQ ID NO: 397 17-38 rno-let-7b SEQ ID NO: 398  7-28 rno-let-7c-1 SEQ ID NO: 399 16-37 rno-let-7c-2 SEQ ID NO: 400 14-35 rno-let-7e SEQ ID NO: 401 15-35 rno-let-7f-1 SEQ ID NO: 402  8-29 rno-let-7f-2 SEQ ID NO: 403  8-29 rno-let-7i SEQ ID NO: 404  6-24 rno-mir-7-2 SEQ ID NO: 405 19-39 rno-mir-7b SEQ ID NO: 406 29-49 rno-mir-9-1 SEQ ID NO: 407 16-38 rno-mir-9-3 SEQ ID NO: 408 16-38 rno-mir-9-2 SEQ ID NO: 409 16-38 rno-mir-10a SEQ ID NO: 410 22-44 rno-mir-10b SEQ ID NO: 411 26-47 rno-mir-15b SEQ ID NO: 412 20-41 rno-mir-16 SEQ ID NO: 413 17-38 rno-mir-17 SEQ ID NO: 414 14-37 rno-mir-18 SEQ ID NO: 415 17-38 rno-mir-19b-1 SEQ ID NO: 416 54-76 rno-mir-19b-2 SEQ ID NO: 417 62-84 rno-mir-19a SEQ ID NO: 418 49-71 rno-mir-20 SEQ ID NO: 419 16-38 and/or 52-72 rno-mir-21 SEQ ID NO: 420 18-39 rno-mir-22 SEQ ID NO: 421 57-78 rno-mir-23a SEQ ID NO: 422 46-66 rno-mir-23b SEQ ID NO: 423 58-80 rno-mir-24-1 SEQ ID NO: 424 44-65 rno-mir-24-2 SEQ ID NO: 425 61-82 rno-mir-25 SEQ ID NO: 426 52-73 rno-mir-26a SEQ ID NO: 427 16-37 rno-mir-26b SEQ ID NO: 428 15-36 rno-mir-27b SEQ ID NO: 429 61-80 rno-mir-27a SEQ ID NO: 430 56-76 rno-mir-28 SEQ ID NO: 431 14-35 rno-mir-29b-2 SEQ ID NO: 432 52-73 rno-mir-29a SEQ ID NO: 433 53-74 rno-mir-29b-1 SEQ ID NO: 434 51-72 rno-mir-29c SEQ ID NO: 435 54-75 rno-mir-30c-1 SEQ ID NO: 436 17-39 rno-mir-30e SEQ ID NO: 437  2-21 rno-mir-30b SEQ ID NO: 438 16-36 rno-mir-30d SEQ ID NO: 439 12-33 rno-mir-30a SEQ ID NO: 440 47-68 rno-mir-30c-2 SEQ ID NO: 441 14-36 rno-mir-31 SEQ ID NO: 442 28-49 rno-mir-32 SEQ ID NO: 443  6-26 rno-mir-33 SEQ ID NO: 444  6-24 rno-mir-34b SEQ ID NO: 445 13-35 rno-mir-34c SEQ ID NO: 446 13-35 rno-mir-34a SEQ ID NO: 447 20-42 rno-mir-92-1 SEQ ID NO: 448 48-68 rno-mir-92-2 SEQ ID NO: 449 55-75 rno-mir-93 SEQ ID NO: 450 15-37 rno-mir-96 SEQ ID NO: 451 24-46 rno-mir-98 SEQ ID NO: 452  2-23 rno-mir-99a SEQ ID NO: 453 13-34 rno-mir-99b SEQ ID NO: 454  7-28 rno-mir-100 SEQ ID NO: 455 13-34 rno-mir-101b SEQ ID NO: 456 61-82 rno-mir-101 SEQ ID NO: 457 47-68 rno-mir-103-2 SEQ ID NO: 458 52-74 rno-mir-103-1 SEQ ID NO: 459 52-74 rno-mir-106b SEQ ID NO: 460 12-32 rno-mir-107 SEQ ID NO: 461 52-74 rno-mir-122a SEQ ID NO: 462 15-37 rno-mir-124a-3 SEQ ID NO: 463 52-73 rno-mir-124a-1 SEQ ID NO: 464 52-73 rno-mir-124a-2 SEQ ID NO: 465 61-82 rno-mir-125a SEQ ID NO: 466 15-37 rno-mir-125b-1 SEQ ID NO: 467 15-36 rno-mir-125b-2 SEQ ID NO: 468 17-38 rno-mir-126 SEQ ID NO: 469  9-29 and/or 46-66 rno-mir-127 SEQ ID NO: 470 57-78 rno-mir-128a SEQ ID NO: 471 50-71 rno-mir-128b SEQ ID NO: 472 52-73 rno-mir-129-2 SEQ ID NO: 473 19-40 and/or 61-82 rno-mir-129-1 SEQ ID NO: 474  6-27 rno-mir-130a SEQ ID NO: 475 55-74 rno-mir-130b SEQ ID NO: 476 51-72 rno-mir-132 SEQ ID NO: 477 59-80 rno-mir-133a SEQ ID NO: 478 53-74 rno-mir-134 SEQ ID NO: 479  8-28 rno-mir-135b SEQ ID NO: 480 16-37 rno-mir-135a SEQ ID NO: 481 23-45 rno-mir-136 SEQ ID NO: 482 15-37 rno-mir-137 SEQ ID NO: 483 60-81 rno-mir-138-2 SEQ ID NO: 484  9-25 rno-mir-138-1 SEQ ID NO: 485 23-39 rno-mir-139 SEQ ID NO: 486  7-24 rno-mir-140 SEQ ID NO: 487 23-43 and/or 61-84 rno-mir-141 SEQ ID NO: 488 59-79 rno-mir-142 SEQ ID NO: 489 16-35 and/or 52-74 rno-mir-143 SEQ ID NO: 490 60-81 rno-mir-144 SEQ ID NO: 491 50-71 rno-mir-145 SEQ ID NO: 492 16-39 rno-mir-146 SEQ ID NO: 493 17-38 rno-mir-148b SEQ ID NO: 494 61-82 rno-mir-150 SEQ ID NO: 495 16-37 rno-mir-151 SEQ ID NO: 496 16-37 and/or 50-71 rno-mir-152 SEQ ID NO: 497 53-73 rno-mir-153 SEQ ID NO: 498 53-72 rno-mir-154 SEQ ID NO: 499 15-36 rno-mir-181c SEQ ID NO: 500 24-45 rno-mir-181a SEQ ID NO: 501 39-61 rno-mir-181b-1 SEQ ID NO: 502 36-59 rno-mir-181b-2 SEQ ID NO: 503 15-38 rno-mir-183 SEQ ID NO: 504 27-49 rno-mir-184 SEQ ID NO: 505 47-68 rno-mir-185 SEQ ID NO: 506 14-31 rno-mir-186 SEQ ID NO: 507 15-37 rno-mir-187 SEQ ID NO: 508 66-86 rno-mir-190 SEQ ID NO: 509 15-36 rno-mir-191 SEQ ID NO: 510 15-36 rno-mir-192 SEQ ID NO: 511 24-44 rno-mir-193 SEQ ID NO: 512 54-74 rno-mir-194-1 SEQ ID NO: 513 15-36 rno-mir-194-2 SEQ ID NO: 514 15-36 rno-mir-195 SEQ ID NO: 515 15-35 rno-mir-196 SEQ ID NO: 516 25-45 rno-mir-199a SEQ ID NO: 517 31-53 rno-mir-200c SEQ ID NO: 518 46-67 rno-mir-200a SEQ ID NO: 519 54-75 rno-mir-200b SEQ ID NO: 520 54-77 rno-mir-203 SEQ ID NO: 521 52-73 rno-mir-204 SEQ ID NO: 522 33-54 rno-mir-205 SEQ ID NO: 523 33-54 rno-mir-206 SEQ ID NO: 524 51-72 rno-mir-208 SEQ ID NO: 525 50-71 rno-mir-210 SEQ ID NO: 526 66-86 rno-mir-211 SEQ ID NO: 527 26-47 rno-mir-212 SEQ ID NO: 528 72-92 rno-mir-213 SEQ ID NO: 529 55-76 rno-mir-214 SEQ ID NO: 530 71-91 rno-mir-216 SEQ ID NO: 531 19-39 rno-mir-217 SEQ ID NO: 532 32-55 rno-mir-218-2 SEQ ID NO: 533 25-45 rno-mir-218-1 SEQ ID NO: 534 25-45 rno-mir-219-1 SEQ ID NO: 535 21-41 rno-mir-219-2 SEQ ID NO: 536 19-39 rno-mir-221 SEQ ID NO: 537 65-87 rno-mir-222 SEQ ID NO: 538 62-85 rno-mir-223 SEQ ID NO: 539 68-88 rno-mir-290 SEQ ID NO: 540 14-36 rno-mir-291 SEQ ID NO: 541 14-35 and/or 50-72 rno-mir-292 SEQ ID NO: 542 12-33 and/or 51-73 rno-mir-296 SEQ ID NO: 543 13-33 rno-mir-297 SEQ ID NO: 544 26-48 rno-mir-298 SEQ ID NO: 545 11-32 rno-mir-299 SEQ ID NO: 546  7-28 rno-mir-300 SEQ ID NO: 547 51-72 rno-mir-301 SEQ ID NO: 548 61-85 rno-mir-320 SEQ ID NO: 549 48-70 rno-mir-321 SEQ ID NO: 550 10-30 rno-mir-322 SEQ ID NO: 551 61-80 rno-mir-323 SEQ ID NO: 552 50-71 rno-mir-324 SEQ ID NO: 553 16-38 and/or 51-72 rno-mir-325 SEQ ID NO: 554 16-38 rno-mir-326 SEQ ID NO: 555 60-80 rno-mir-328 SEQ ID NO: 556 48-69 rno-mir-329 SEQ ID NO: 557 61-82 rno-mir-330 SEQ ID NO: 558 60-82 rno-mir-331 SEQ ID NO: 559 61-81 rno-mir-333 SEQ ID NO: 560 16-35 rno-mir-336 SEQ ID NO: 561 16-36 rno-mir-337 SEQ ID NO: 562 60-82 rno-mir-338 SEQ ID NO: 563 41-63 rno-mir-339 SEQ ID NO: 564 16-36 rno-mir-341 SEQ ID NO: 565 61-81 rno-mir-342 SEQ ID NO: 566 61-84 rno-mir-344 SEQ ID NO: 567 61-83 rno-mir-345 SEQ ID NO: 568 16-36 rno-mir-346 SEQ ID NO: 569 16-38 rno-mir-349 SEQ ID NO: 570 61-82 rno-mir-350 SEQ ID NO: 571 61-84 rno-mir-351 SEQ ID NO: 572 16-39 rno-mir-352 SEQ ID NO: 592 61-81 rno-mir-421 SEQ ID NO: 593 10-30 rno-mir-429 SEQ ID NO: 700 53-74 rno-mir-448 SEQ ID NO: 701 72-93 rno-mir-449 SEQ ID NO: 702 16-37 rno-mir-450 SEQ ID NO: 703 17-38

It is understood that an miRNA is derived from genomic sequences or a gene. In this respect, the term “gene” is used for simplicity to refer to the genomic sequence encoding the precursor miRNA for a given miRNA. However, embodiments of the invention may involve genomic sequences of a miRNA that are involved in its expression, such as a promoter or other regulatory sequences.

The term “recombinant” may be used and this generally refers to a molecule that has been manipulated in vitro or that is the replicated or expressed product of such a molecule.

The term “nucleic acid” is well known in the art. A “nucleic acid” as used herein will generally refer to a molecule (one or more strands) of DNA, RNA or a derivative or analog thereof, comprising a nucleobase. A nucleobase includes, for example, a naturally occurring purine or pyrimidine base found in DNA (e.g., an adenine “A,” a guanine “G,” a thymine “T” or a cytosine “C”) or RNA (e.g., an A, a G, an uracil “U” or a C). The term “nucleic acid” encompass the terms “oligonucleotide” and “polynucleotide,” each as a subgenus of the term “nucleic acid.”

The term “miRNA” generally refers to a single-stranded molecule, but in specific embodiments, molecules implemented in the invention will also encompass a region or an additional strand that is partially (between 10 and 50% complementary across length of strand), substantially (greater than 50% but less than 100% complementary across length of strand) or fully complementary to another region of the same single-stranded molecule or to another nucleic acid. Thus, nucleic acids may encompass a molecule that comprises one or more complementary or self-complementary strand(s) or “complement(s)” of a particular sequence comprising a molecule. For example, precursor miRNA may have a self-complementary region, which is up to 100% complementary. miRNA probes of the invention can be or be at least 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100% complementary to their target.

As used herein, “hybridization”, “hybridizes” or “capable of hybridizing” is understood to mean the forming of a double or triple stranded molecule or a molecule with partial double or triple stranded nature. The term “anneal” as used herein is synonymous with “hybridize.” The term “hybridization”, “hybridize(s)” or “capable of hybridizing” encompasses the terms “stringent condition(s)” or “high stringency” and the terms “low stringency” or “low stringency condition(s).”

As used herein “stringent condition(s)” or “high stringency” are those conditions that allow hybridization between or within one or more nucleic acid strand(s) containing complementary sequence(s), but precludes hybridization of random sequences. Stringent conditions tolerate little, if any, mismatch between a nucleic acid and a target strand. Such conditions are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, and are preferred for applications requiring high selectivity. Non-limiting applications include isolating a nucleic acid, such as a gene or a nucleic acid segment thereof, or detecting at least one specific mRNA transcript or a nucleic acid segment thereof, and the like.

Stringent conditions may comprise low salt and/or high temperature conditions, such as provided by about 0.02 M to about 0.5 M NaCl at temperatures of about 42° C. to about 70° C. It is understood that the temperature and ionic strength of a desired stringency are determined in part by the length of the particular nucleic acid(s), the length and nucleobase content of the target sequence(s), the charge composition of the nucleic acid(s), and to the presence or concentration of formamide, tetramethylammonium chloride or other solvent(s) in a hybridization mixture.

It is also understood that these ranges, compositions and conditions for hybridization are mentioned by way of non-limiting examples only, and that the desired stringency for a particular hybridization reaction is often determined empirically by comparison to one or more positive or negative controls. Depending on the application envisioned it is preferred to employ varying conditions of hybridization to achieve varying degrees of selectivity of a nucleic acid towards a target sequence. In a non-limiting example, identification or isolation of a related target nucleic acid that does not hybridize to a nucleic acid under stringent conditions may be achieved by hybridization at low temperature and/or high ionic strength. Such conditions are termed “low stringency” or “low stringency conditions”, and non-limiting examples of low stringency include hybridization performed at about 0.15 M to about 0.9 M NaCl at a temperature range of about 20° C. to about 50° C. Of course, it is within the skill of one in the art to further modify the low or high stringency conditions to suite a particular application.

1. Nucleobases

As used herein a “nucleobase” refers to a heterocyclic base, such as for example a naturally occurring nucleobase (i.e., an A, T, G, C or U) found in at least one naturally occurring nucleic acid (i.e., DNA and RNA), and naturally or non-naturally occurring derivative(s) and analogs of such a nucleobase. A nucleobase generally can form one or more hydrogen bonds (“anneal” or “hybridize”) with at least one naturally occurring nucleobase in manner that may substitute for naturally occurring nucleobase pairing (e.g., the hydrogen bonding between A and T, G and C, and A and U).

“Purine” and/or “pyrimidine” nucleobase(s) encompass naturally occurring purine and/or pyrimidine nucleobases and also derivative(s) and analog(s) thereof, including but not limited to, those a purine or pyrimidine substituted by one or more of an alkyl, caboxyalkyl, amino, hydroxyl, halogen (i.e., fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo), thiol or alkylthiol moeity. Preferred alkyl (e.g., alkyl, caboxyalkyl, etc.) moieties comprise of from about 1, about 2, about 3, about 4, about 5, to about 6 carbon atoms. Other non-limiting examples of a purine or pyrimidine include a deazapurine, a 2,6-diaminopurine, a 5-fluorouracil, a xanthine, a hypoxanthine, a 8-bromoguanine, a 8-chloroguanine, a bromothymine, a 8-aminoguanine, a 8-hydroxyguanine, a 8-methylguanine, a 8-thioguanine, an azaguanine, a 2-aminopurine, a 5-ethylcytosine, a 5-methylcyosine, a 5-bromouracil, a 5-ethyluracil, a 5-iodouracil, a 5-chlorouracil, a 5-propyluracil, a thiouracil, a 2-methyladenine, a methylthioadenine, a N,N-diemethyladenine, an azaadenines, a 8-bromoadenine, a 8-hydroxyadenine, a 6-hydroxyaminopurine, a 6-thiopurine, a 4-(6-aminohexyl/cytosine), and the like. Other examples are well known to those of skill in the art.

A nucleobase may be comprised in a nucleoside or nucleotide, using any chemical or natural synthesis method described herein or known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such nucleobase may be labeled or it may be part of a molecule that is labeled and contains the nucleobase.

2. Nucleosides

As used herein, a “nucleoside” refers to an individual chemical unit comprising a nucleobase covalently attached to a nucleobase linker moiety. A non-limiting example of a “nucleobase linker moiety” is a sugar comprising 5-carbon atoms (i.e., a “5-carbon sugar”), including but not limited to a deoxyribose, a ribose, an arabinose, or a derivative or an analog of a 5-carbon sugar. Non-limiting examples of a derivative or an analog of a 5-carbon sugar include a 2′-fluoro-2′-deoxyribose or a carbocyclic sugar where a carbon is substituted for an oxygen atom in the sugar ring.

Different types of covalent attachment(s) of a nucleobase to a nucleobase linker moiety are known in the art. By way of non-limiting example, a nucleoside comprising a purine (i.e., A or G) or a 7-deazapurine nucleobase typically covalently attaches the 9 position of a purine or a 7-deazapurine to the 1′-position of a 5-carbon sugar. In another non-limiting example, a nucleoside comprising a pyrimidine nucleobase (i.e., C, T or U) typically covalently attaches a 1 position of a pyrimidine to a 1′-position of a 5-carbon sugar (Kornberg and Baker, 1992).

3. Nucleotides

As used herein, a “nucleotide” refers to a nucleoside further comprising a “backbone moiety”. A backbone moiety generally covalently attaches a nucleotide to another molecule comprising a nucleotide, or to another nucleotide to form a nucleic acid. The “backbone moiety” in naturally occurring nucleotides typically comprises a phosphorus moiety, which is covalently attached to a 5-carbon sugar. The attachment of the backbone moiety typically occurs at either the 3′- or 5′-position of the 5-carbon sugar. However, other types of attachments are known in the art, particularly when a nucleotide comprises derivatives or analogs of a naturally occurring 5-carbon sugar or phosphorus moiety.

4. Nucleic Acid Analogs

A nucleic acid may comprise, or be composed entirely of, a derivative or analog of a nucleobase, a nucleobase linker moiety and/or backbone moiety that may be present in a naturally occurring nucleic acid. RNA with nucleic acid analogs may also be labeled according to methods of the invention. As used herein a “derivative” refers to a chemically modified or altered form of a naturally occurring molecule, while the terms “mimic” or “analog” refer to a molecule that may or may not structurally resemble a naturally occurring molecule or moiety, but possesses similar functions. As used herein, a “moiety” generally refers to a smaller chemical or molecular component of a larger chemical or molecular structure. Nucleobase, nucleoside and nucleotide analogs or derivatives are well known in the art, and have been described (see for example, Scheit, 1980, incorporated herein by reference).

Additional non-limiting examples of nucleosides, nucleotides or nucleic acids comprising 5-carbon sugar and/or backbone moiety derivatives or analogs, include those in: U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,947, which describes oligonucleotides comprising purine derivatives that form triple helixes with and/or prevent expression of dsDNA; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,652,099 and 5,763,167, which describe nucleic acids incorporating fluorescent analogs of nucleosides found in DNA or RNA, particularly for use as fluorescent nucleic acids probes; U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,617, which describes oligonucleotide analogs with substitutions on pyrimidine rings that possess enhanced nuclease stability; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,670,663, 5,872,232 and 5,859,221, which describe oligonucleotide analogs with modified 5-carbon sugars (i.e., modified 2′-deoxyfuranosyl moieties) used in nucleic acid detection; U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,137, which describes oligonucleotides comprising at least one 5-carbon sugar moiety substituted at the 4′ position with a substituent other than hydrogen that can be used in hybridization assays; U.S. Pat. No. 5,886,165, which describes oligonucleotides with both deoxyribonucleotides with 3′-5′ internucleotide linkages and ribonucleotides with 2′-5′ internucleotide linkages; U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,606, which describes a modified internucleotide linkage wherein a 3′-position oxygen of the internucleotide linkage is replaced by a carbon to enhance the nuclease resistance of nucleic acids; U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,697, which describes oligonucleotides containing one or more 5′ methylene phosphonate internucleotide linkages that enhance nuclease resistance; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,466,786 and 5,792,847, which describe the linkage of a substituent moiety which may comprise a drug or label to the 2′ carbon of an oligonucleotide to provide enhanced nuclease stability and ability to deliver drugs or detection moieties; U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,618, which describes oligonucleotide analogs with a 2 or 3 carbon backbone linkage attaching the 4′ position and 3′ position of adjacent 5-carbon sugar moiety to enhanced cellular uptake, resistance to nucleases and hybridization to target RNA; U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,967, which describes oligonucleotides comprising at least one sulfamate or sulfamide internucleotide linkage that are useful as nucleic acid hybridization probe; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,378,825, 5,777,092, 5,623,070, 5,610,289 and 5,602,240, which describe oligonucleotides with three or four atom linker moiety replacing phosphodiester backbone moiety used for improved nuclease resistance, cellular uptake and regulating RNA expression; U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,988, which describes hydrophobic carrier agent attached to the 2′-O position of oligonucleotides to enhanced their membrane permeability and stability; U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,136, which describes oligonucleotides conjugated to anthraquinone at the 5′ terminus that possess enhanced hybridization to DNA or RNA; enhanced stability to nucleases; U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,922, which describes PNA-DNA-PNA chimeras wherein the DNA comprises 2′-deoxy-erythro-pentofuranosyl nucleotides for enhanced nuclease resistance, binding affinity, and ability to activate RNase H; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,154, which describes RNA linked to a DNA to form a DNA-RNA hybrid; U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,525, which describes the labeling of nucleoside analogs with a universal fluorescent label.

Additional teachings for nucleoside analogs and nucleic acid analogs are U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,525, which describes nucleoside analogs that are end-labeled; U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,683, 6,251,666 (L-nucleotide substitutions), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,980 (7-deaza-2′ deoxyguanosine nucleotides and nucleic acid analogs thereof).

5. Modified Nucleotides

Labeling methods and kits of the invention specifically contemplate the use of nucleotides that are both modified for attachment of a label and can be incorporated into an miRNA molecule. Such nucleotides include those that can be labeled with a dye, including a fluorescent dye, or with a molecule such as biotin. Labeled nucleotides are readily available; they can be acquired commercially or they can be synthesized by reactions known to those of skill in the art.

Modified nucleotides for use in the invention are not naturally occurring nucleotides, but instead, refer to prepared nucleotides that have a reactive moiety on them. Specific reactive functionalities of interest include: amino, sulfhydryl, sulfoxyl, aminosulfhydryl, azido, epoxide, isothiocyanate, isocyanate, anhydride, monochlorotriazine, dichlorotriazine, mono- or dihalogen substituted pyridine, mono- or disubstituted diazine, maleimide, epoxide, aziridine, sulfonyl halide, acid halide, alkyl halide, aryl halide, alkylsulfonate, N-hydroxysuccinimide ester, imido ester, hydrazine, azidonitrophenyl, azide, 3-(2-pyridyl dithio)-propionamide, glyoxal, aldehyde, iodoacetyl, cyanomethyl ester, p-nitrophenyl ester, o-nitrophenyl ester, hydroxypyridine ester, carbonyl imidazole, and the other such chemical groups. In some embodiments, the reactive functionality may be bonded directly to a nucleotide, or it may be bonded to the nucleotide through a linking group. The functional moiety and any linker cannot substantially impair the ability of the nucleotide to be added to the miRNA or to be labeled. Representative linking groups include carbon containing linking groups, typically ranging from about 2 to 18, usually from about 2 to 8 carbon atoms, where the carbon containing linking groups may or may not include one or more heteroatoms, e.g. S, O, N etc., and may or may not include one or more sites of unsaturation. Of particular interest in many embodiments are alkyl linking groups, typically lower alkyl linking groups of 1 to 16, usually 1 to 4 carbon atoms, where the linking groups may include one or more sites of unsaturation. The functionalized nucleotides (or primers) used in the above methods of functionalized target generation may be fabricated using known protocols or purchased from commercial vendors, e.g., Sigma, Roche, Ambion, and NEN. Functional groups may be prepared according to ways known to those of skill in the art, including the representative information found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,404,289; 4,405,711; 4,337,063 and 5,268,486, and Br. Pat. No. 1,529,202, which are all incorporated by reference.

Amine-modified nucleotides are used in several embodiments of the invention. The amine-modified nucleotide is a nucleotide that has a reactive amine group for attachment of the label. It is contemplated that any ribonucleotide (G, A, U, or C) or deoxyribonucleotide (G, A, T, or C) can be modified for labeling. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following modified ribo- and deoxyribo-nucleotides: 5-(3-aminoallyl)-UTP; 8-[(4-amino)butyl]-amino-ATP and 8-[(6-amino)butyl]-amino-ATP; N⁶-(4-amino)butyl-ATP, N⁶-(6-amino)butyl-ATP, N⁴-[2,2-oxy-bis-(ethylamine)]-CTP; N⁶-(6-Amino)hexyl-ATP; 8-[(6-Amino)hexyl]-amino-ATP; 5-propargylamino-CTP, 5-propargylamino-UTP; 5-(3-aminoallyl)-dUTP; 8-[(4-amino)butyl]-amino-dATP and 8-[(6-amino)butyl]-amino-dATP; N⁶-(4-amino)butyl-dATP, N⁶-(6-amino)butyl-dATP, N⁴-[2,2-oxy-bis-(ethylamine)]-dCTP; N⁶-(6-Amino)hexyl-dATP; 8-[(6-Amino)hexyl]-amino-dATP; 5-propargylamino-dCTP, and 5-propargylamino-dUTP. Such nucleotides can be prepared according to methods known to those of skill in the art. Moreover, a person of ordinary skill in the art could prepare other nucleotide entities with the same amine-modification, such as a 5-(3-aminoallyl)-CTP, GTP, ATP, dCTP, dGTP, dTTP, or dUTP in place of a 5-(3-aminoallyl)-UTP.

B. Preparation of Nucleic Acids

A nucleic acid may be made by any technique known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such as for example, chemical synthesis, enzymatic production or biological production. It is specifically contemplated that miRNA probes of the invention are chemically synthesized.

In some embodiments of the invention, miRNAs are recovered from a biological sample. The miRNA may be recombinant or it may be natural or endogenous to the cell (produced from the cell's genome). It is contemplated that a biological sample may be treated in a way so as to enhance the recovery of small RNA molecules such as miRNA. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/667,126 describes such methods and it is specifically incorporated by reference herein. Generally, methods involve lysing cells with a solution having guanidinium and a detergent, as described in Example 1.

Alternatively, nucleic acid synthesis is performed according to standard methods. See, for example, Itakura and Riggs (1980). Additionally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,704,362, 5,221,619, and 5,583,013 each describe various methods of preparing synthetic nucleic acids. Non-limiting examples of a synthetic nucleic acid (e.g., a synthetic oligonucleotide), include a nucleic acid made by in vitro chemically synthesis using phosphotriester, phosphite or phosphoramidite chemistry and solid phase techniques such as described in EP 266,032, incorporated herein by reference, or via deoxynucleoside H-phosphonate intermediates as described by Froehler et al., 1986 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,629, each incorporated herein by reference. In the methods of the present invention, one or more oligonucleotide may be used. Various different mechanisms of oligonucleotide synthesis have been disclosed in for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,659,774, 4,816,571, 5,141,813, 5,264,566, 4,959,463, 5,428,148, 5,554,744, 5,574,146, 5,602,244, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

A non-limiting example of an enzymatically produced nucleic acid include one produced by enzymes in amplification reactions such as PCR™ (see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,195, each incorporated herein by reference), or the synthesis of an oligonucleotide described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,897, incorporated herein by reference. A non-limiting example of a biologically produced nucleic acid includes a recombinant nucleic acid produced (i.e., replicated) in a living cell, such as a recombinant DNA vector replicated in bacteria (see for example, Sambrook et al. 1989, incorporated herein by reference).

Oligonucleotide synthesis is well known to those of skill in the art. Various different mechanisms of oligonucleotide synthesis have been disclosed in for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,659,774, 4,816,571, 5,141,813, 5,264,566, 4,959,463, 5,428,148, 5,554,744, 5,574,146, 5,602,244, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Basically, chemical synthesis can be achieved by the diester method, the triester method polynucleotides phosphorylase method and by solid-phase chemistry. These methods are discussed in further detail below.

Diester method. The diester method was the first to be developed to a usable state, primarily by Khorana and co-workers. (Khorana, 1979). The basic step is the joining of two suitably protected deoxynucleotides to form a dideoxynucleotide containing a phosphodiester bond. The diester method is well established and has been used to synthesize DNA molecules (Khorana, 1979).

Triester method. The main difference between the diester and triester methods is the presence in the latter of an extra protecting group on the phosphate atoms of the reactants and products (Itakura et al., 1975). The phosphate protecting group is usually a chlorophenyl group, which renders the nucleotides and polynucleotide intermediates soluble in organic solvents. Therefore purification's are done in chloroform solutions. Other improvements in the method include (i) the block coupling of trimers and larger oligomers, (ii) the extensive use of high-performance liquid chromatography for the purification of both intermediate and final products, and (iii) solid-phase synthesis.

Polynucleotide phosphorylase method. This is an enzymatic method of DNA synthesis that can be used to synthesize many useful oligonucleotides (Gillam et al., 1978; Gillam et al., 1979). Under controlled conditions, polynucleotide phosphorylase adds predominantly a single nucleotide to a short oligonucleotide. Chromatographic purification allows the desired single adduct to be obtained. At least a trimer is required to start the procedure, and this primer must be obtained by some other method. The polynucleotide phosphorylase method works and has the advantage that the procedures involved are familiar to most biochemists.

Solid-phase methods. Drawing on the technology developed for the solid-phase synthesis of polypeptides, it has been possible to attach the initial nucleotide to solid support material and proceed with the stepwise addition of nucleotides. All mixing and washing steps are simplified, and the procedure becomes amenable to automation. These syntheses are now routinely carried out using automatic nucleic acid synthesizers.

Phosphoramidite chemistry (Beaucage and Lyer, 1992) has become by far the most widely used coupling chemistry for the synthesis of oligonucleotides. As is well known to those skilled in the art, phosphoramidite synthesis of oligonucleotides involves activation of nucleoside phosphoramidite monomer precursors by reaction with an activating agent to form activated intermediates, followed by sequential addition of the activated intermediates to the growing oligonucleotide chain (generally anchored at one end to a suitable solid support) to form the oligonucleotide product.

Recombinant methods. Recombinant methods for producing nucleic acids in a cell are well known to those of skill in the art. These include the use of vectors (viral and non-viral), plasmids, cosmids, and other vehicles for delivering a nucleic acid to a cell, which may be the target cell or simply a host cell (to produce large quantities of the desired RNA molecule). Alternatively, such vehicles can be used in the context of a cell free system so long as the reagents for generating the RNA molecule are present. Such methods include those described in Sambrook, 2003, Sambrook, 2001 and Sambrook, 1989, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In certain embodiments, the present invention concerns nucleic acid molecules that are not synthetic. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid molecule has a chemical structure of a naturally occurring nucleic acid and a sequence of a naturally occurring nucleic acid, such as the exact and entire sequence of a single stranded primary miRNA (see Lee 2002), a single-stranded precursor miRNA, or a single-stranded mature miRNA. In addition to the use of recombinant technology, such non-synthetic nucleic acids may be generated chemically, such as by employing technology used for creating oligonucleotides.

C. Isolation of Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids may be isolated using techniques well known to those of skill in the art, though in particular embodiments, methods for isolating small nucleic acid molecules and/or isolating RNA molecules can be employed. Chromatography is a process often used to separate or isolate nucleic acids from protein or from other nucleic acids. Such methods can involve electrophoresis with a gel matrix, filter columns, alcohol precipitation, and/or other chromatography. If miRNA from cells is to be used or evaluated, methods generally involve lysing the cells with a chaotropic (e.g., guanidinium isothiocyanate) and/or detergent (e.g., N-lauroyl sarcosine) prior to implementing processes for isolating particular populations of RNA.

In particular methods for separating miRNA from other nucleic acids, a gel matrix is prepared using polyacrylamide, though agarose can also be used. The gels may be graded by concentration or they may be uniform. Plates or tubing can be used to hold the gel matrix for electrophoresis. Usually one-dimensional electrophoresis is employed for the separation of nucleic acids. Plates are used to prepare a slab gel, while the tubing (glass or rubber, typically) can be used to prepare a tube gel. The phrase “tube electrophoresis” refers to the use of a tube or tubing, instead of plates, to form the gel. Materials for implementing tube electrophoresis can be readily prepared by a person of skill in the art or purchased, such as from C.B.S. Scientific Co., Inc. or Scie-Plas.

Methods may involve the use of organic solvents and/or alcohol to isolate nucleic acids, particularly miRNA used in methods and compositions of the invention. Some embodiments are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/667,126, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Generally, this disclosure provides methods for efficiently isolating small RNA molecules from cells comprising: adding an alcohol solution to a cell lysate and applying the alcohol/lysate mixture to a solid support before eluting the RNA molecules from the solid support. In some embodiments, the amount of alcohol added to a cell lysate achieves an alcohol concentration of about 55% to 60%. While different alcohols can be employed, ethanol works well. A solid support may be any structure, and it includes beads, filters, and columns, which may include a mineral or polymer support with electronegative groups. A glass fiber filter or column has worked particularly well for such isolation procedures.

In specific embodiments, miRNA isolation processes include: a) lysing cells in the sample with a lysing solution comprising guanidinium, wherein a lysate with a concentration of at least about 1 M guanidinium is produced; b) extracting miRNA molecules from the lysate with an extraction solution comprising phenol; c) adding to the lysate an alcohol solution for form a lysate/alcohol mixture, wherein the concentration of alcohol in the mixture is between about 35% to about 70%; d) applying the lysate/alcohol mixture to a solid support; e) eluting the miRNA molecules from the solid support with an ionic solution; and, f) capturing the miRNA molecules. Typically the sample is dried down and resuspended in a liquid and volume appropriate for subsequent manipulation.

II. Labels and Labeling Techniques

In some embodiments, the present invention concerns miRNA that are labeled. It is contemplated that miRNA may first be isolated and/or purified prior to labeling. This may achieve a reaction that more efficiently labels the miRNA, as opposed to other RNA in a sample in which the miRNA is not isolated or purified prior to labeling. In many embodiments of the invention, the label is non-radioactive. Generally, nucleic acids may be labeled by adding labeled nucleotides (one-step process) or adding nucleotides and labeling the added nucleotides (two-step process).

A. Labeling Techniques

In some embodiments, nucleic acids are labeled by catalytically adding to the nucleic acid an already labeled nucleotide or nucleotides. One or more labeled nucleotides can be added to miRNA molecules. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,723,509, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

In other embodiments, an unlabeled nucleotide or nucleotides is catalytically added to an miRNA, and the unlabeled nucleotide is modified with a chemical moiety that enables it to be subsequently labeled. In embodiments of the invention, the chemical moiety is a reactive amine such that the nucleotide is an amine-modified nucleotide.

Examples of amine-modified nucleotides are well known to those of skill in the art, many being commercially available such as from Ambion, Sigma, Jena Bioscience, and TriLink.

In contrast to labeling of cDNA during its synthesis, the issue for labeling miRNA is how to label the already existing molecule. The present invention concerns the use of an enzyme capable of using a di- or tri-phosphate ribonucleotide or deoxyribonucleotide as a substrate for its addition to an miRNA, a small RNA molecule. Moreover, in specific embodiments, it involves using a modified di- or tri-phosphate ribonucleotide, which is added to the 3′ end of an miRNA. The source of the enzyme is not limiting. Examples of sources for the enzymes include yeast, gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli, lactococcus lactic, and sheep pox virus.

Enzymes capable of adding such nucleotides include, but are not limited to, poly(A) polymerase, terminal transferase, and polynucleotide phosphorylase. In specific embodiments of the invention, ligase is contemplated as NOT being the enzyme used to add the label, and instead, a non-ligase enzyme is employed.

Poly(A) polymerase has been cloned from a number of organisms from plants to humans. It has been shown to catalyze the addition of homopolymer tracts to RNA (Martin et al., 1998).

Terminal transferase catalyzes the addition of nucleotides to the 3′ terminus of a nucleic acid.

Polynucleotide phosphorylase can polymerize nucleotide diphosphates without the need for a primer.

B. Labels

Labels on miRNA or miRNA probes may be colorimetric (includes visible and UV spectrum, including fluorescent), luminescent, enzymatic, or positron emitting (including radioactive). The label may be detected directly or indirectly. Radioactive labels include ¹²⁵I, ³²P, ³³P, and ³⁵S. Examples of enzymatic labels include alkaline phosphatase, luciferase, horseradish peroxidase, and β-galactosidase. Labels can also be proteins with luminescent properties, e.g., green fluorescent protein and phicoerythrin.

The colorimetric and fluorescent labels contemplated for use as conjugates include, but are not limited to, Alexa Fluor dyes, BODIPY dyes, such as BODIPY FL; Cascade Blue; Cascade Yellow; coumarin and its derivatives, such as 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin, aminocoumarin and hydroxycoumarin; cyanine dyes, such as Cy3 and Cy5; eosins and erythrosins; fluorescein and its derivatives, such as fluorescein isothiocyanate; macrocyclic chelates of lanthanide ions, such as Quantum Dye™; Marina Blue; Oregon Green; rhodamine dyes, such as rhodamine red, tetramethylrhodamine and rhodamine 6G; Texas Red; fluorescent energy transfer dyes, such as thiazole orange-ethidium heterodimer; and, TOTAB.

Specific examples of dyes include, but are not limited to, those identified above and the following: Alexa Fluor 350, Alexa Fluor 405, Alexa Fluor 430, Alexa Fluor 488, Alexa Fluor 500. Alexa Fluor 514, Alexa Fluor 532, Alexa Fluor 546, Alexa Fluor 555, Alexa Fluor 568, Alexa Fluor 594, Alexa Fluor 610, Alexa Fluor 633, Alexa Fluor 647, Alexa Fluor 660, Alexa Fluor 680, Alexa Fluor 700, and, Alexa Fluor 750; amine-reactive BODIPY dyes, such as BODIPY 493/503, BODIPY 530/550, BODIPY 558/568, BODIPY 564/570, BODIPY 576/589, BODIPY 581/591, BODIPY 630/650, BODIPY 650/655, BODIPY FL, BODIPY R6G, BODIPY TMR, and, BODIPY-TR; Cy3, Cy5, 6-FAM, Fluorescein Isothiocyanate, HEX, 6-JOE, Oregon Green 488, Oregon Green 500, Oregon Green 514, Pacific Blue, REG, Rhodamine Green, Rhodamine Red, Renographin, ROX, SYPRO, TAMRA, 2′,4′,5′,7′-Tetrabromosulfonefluorescein, and TET.

Specific examples of fluorescently labeled ribonucleotides are available from Molecular Probes, and these include, Alexa Fluor 488-5-UTP, Fluorescein-12-UTP, BODIPY FL-14-UTP, BODIPY TMR-14-UTP, Tetramethylrhodamine-6-UTP, Alexa Fluor 546-14-UTP, Texas Red-5-UTP, and BODIPY TR-14-UTP. Other fluorescent ribonucleotides are available from Amersham Biosciences, such as Cy3-UTP and Cy5-UTP.

Examples of fluorescently labeled deoxyribonucleotides include Dinitrophenyl (DNP)-11-dUTP, Cascade Blue-7-dUTP, Alexa Fluor 488-5-dUTP, Fluorescein-12-dUTP, Oregon Green 488-5-dUTP, BODIPY FL-14-dUTP, Rhodamine Green-5-dUTP, Alexa Fluor 532-5-dUTP, BODIPY TMR-14-dUTP, Tetramethylrhodamine-6-dUTP, Alexa Fluor 546-14-dUTP, Alexa Fluor 568-5-dUTP, Texas Red-12-dUTP, Texas Red-5-dUTP, BODIPY TR-14-dUTP, Alexa Fluor 594-5-dUTP, BODIPY 630/650-14-dUTP, BODIPY 650/665-14-dUTP; Alexa Fluor 488-7-OBEA-dCTP, Alexa Fluor 546-16-OBEA-dCTP, Alexa Fluor 594-7-OBEA-dCTP, Alexa Fluor 647-12-OBEA-dCTP.

It is contemplated that nucleic acids may be labeled with two different labels. Furthermore, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) may be employed in methods of the invention (e.g., Klostermeier et al., 2002; Emptage, 2001; Didenko, 2001, each incorporated by reference).

Alternatively, the label may not be detectable per se, but indirectly detectable or allowing for the isolation or separation of the targeted nucleic acid. For example, the label could be biotin, digoxigenin, polyvalent cations, chelator groups and the other ligands, include ligands for an antibody.

C. Visualization Techniques

A number of techniques for visualizing or detecting labeled nucleic acids are readily available. The reference by Stanley T. Crooke, 2000 has a discussion of such techniques (Chapter 6), which is incorporated by reference. Such techniques include, microscopy, arrays, Fluorometry, Light cyclers or other real time PCR machines, FACS analysis, scintillation counters, Phosphoimagers, Geiger counters, MRI, CAT, antibody-based detection methods (Westerns, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry), histochemical techniques, HPLC (Griffey et al., 1997, spectroscopy, capillary gel electrophoresis (Cummins et al., 1996), spectroscopy; mass spectroscopy; radiological techniques; and mass balance techniques.

When two or more differentially colored labels are employed, fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) techniques may be employed to characterize the dsRNA. Furthermore, a person of ordinary skill in the art is well aware of ways of visualizing, identifying, and characterizing labeled nucleic acids, and accordingly, such protocols may be used as part of the invention. Examples of tools that may be used also include fluorescent microscopy, a BioAnalyzer, a plate reader, Storm (Molecular Dynamics), Array Scanner, FACS (fluorescent activated cell sorter), or any instrument that has the ability to excite and detect a fluorescent molecule.

III. Array Preparation and Screening

A. Array Preparation

The present invention concerns the preparation and use of miRNA arrays, which are ordered macroarrays or microarrays of nucleic acid molecules (probes) that are fully or nearly complementary or identical to a plurality of miRNA molecules or precursor miRNA molecules and that are positioned on a support material in a spatially separated organization. Macroarrays are typically sheets of nitrocellulose or nylon upon which probes have been spotted. Microarrays position the nucleic acid probes more densely such that up to 10,000 nucleic acid molecules can be fit into a region typically 1 to 4 square centimeters. Microarrays can be fabricated by spotting nucleic acid molecules, e.g., genes, oligonucleotides, etc., onto substrates or fabricating oligonucleotide sequences in situ on a substrate. Spotted or fabricated nucleic acid molecules can be applied in a high density matrix pattern of up to about 30 non-identical nucleic acid molecules per square centimeter or higher, e.g. up to about 100 or even 1000 per square centimeter. Microarrays typically use coated glass as the solid support, in contrast to the nitrocellulose-based material of filter arrays. By having an ordered array of miRNA-complementing nucleic acid samples, the position of each sample can be tracked and linked to the original sample. A variety of different array devices in which a plurality of distinct nucleic acid probes are stably associated with the surface of a solid support are known to those of skill in the art. Useful substrates for arrays include nylon, glass and silicon. Such arrays may vary in a number of different ways, including average probe length, sequence or types of probes, nature of bond between the probe and the array surface, e.g. covalent or non-covalent, and the like. The labeling and screening methods of the present invention and the arrays are not limited in its utility with respect to any parameter except that the probes detect miRNA; consequently, methods and compositions may be used with a variety of different types of miRNA arrays.

Representative methods and apparatus for preparing a microarray have been described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,143,854; 5,202,231; 5,242,974; 5,288,644; 5,324,633; 5,384,261; 5,405,783; 5,412,087; 5,424,186; 5,429,807; 5,432,049; 5,436,327; 5,445,934; 5,468,613; 5,470,710; 5,472,672; 5,492,806; 5,525,464; 5,503,980; 5,510,270; 5,525,464; 5,527,681; 5,529,756; 5,532,128; 5,545,531; 5,547,839; 5,554,501; 5,556,752; 5,561,071; 5,571,639; 5,580,726; 5,580,732; 5,593,839; 5,599,695; 5,599,672; 5,610,287; 5,624,711; 5,631,134; 5,639,603; 5,654,413; 5,658,734; 5,661,028; 5,665,547; 5,667,972; 5,695,940; 5,700,637; 5,744,305; 5,800,992; 5,807,522; 5,830,645; 5,837,196; 5,871,928; 5,847,219; 5,876,932; 5,919,626; 6,004,755; 6,087,102; 6,368,799; 6,383,749; 6,617,112; 6,638,717; 6,720,138, as well as WO 93/17126; WO 95/11995; WO 95/21265; WO 95/21944; WO 95/35505; WO 96/31622; WO 97/10365; WO 97/27317; WO 99/35505; WO 09923256; WO 09936760; WO0138580; WO 0168255; WO 03020898; WO 03040410; WO 03053586; WO 03087297; WO 03091426; WO03100012; WO 04020085; WO 04027093; EP 373 203; EP 785 280; EP 799 897 and UK 8 803 000; the disclosures of which are all herein incorporated by reference.

It is contemplated that the arrays can be high density arrays, such that they contain 100 or more different probes. It is contemplated that they may contain 1000, 16,000, 65,000, 250,000 or 1,000,000 or more different probes. The probes can be directed to targets in one or more different organisms. The oligonucleotide probes range from 5 to 50, 5 to 45, 10 to 40, or 15 to 40 nucleotides in length in some embodiments. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide probes are 20 to 25 nucleotides in length.

The location and sequence of each different probe sequence in the array are generally known. Moreover, the large number of different probes can occupy a relatively small area providing a high density array having a probe density of generally greater than about 60, 100, 600, 1000, 5,000, 10,000, 40,000, 100,000, or 400,000 different oligonucleotide probes per cm². The surface area of the array can be about or less than about 1, 1.6, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 cm².

Moreover, a person of ordinary skill in the art could readily analyze data generated using an array. Such protocols are disclosed above, and include information found in WO 9743450; WO 03023058; WO 03022421; WO 03029485; WO 03067217; WO 03066906; WO 03076928; WO 03093810; WO 03100448A1, all of which are specifically incorporated by reference.

B. Sample Preparation

It is contemplated that the miRNA of a wide variety of samples can be analyzed using the array technology of the invention. While endogenous miRNA is contemplated for use with compositions and methods of the invention, recombinant miRNA—including nucleic acids that are complementary or identical to endogenous miRNA or precursor miRNA—can also be handled and analyzed as described herein. Samples may be biological samples, in which case, they can be from blood, tissue, organs, semen, saliva, tears, other bodily fluid, hair follicles, skin, or any sample containing or constituting biological cells. Alternatively, the sample may not be a biological sample, but be a chemical mixture, such as a cell-free reaction mixture (which may contain one or more biological enzymes).

C. Hybridization

After the array is prepared and the miRNA in the sample is labeled, the population of target nucleic acids is contacted with the array under hybridization conditions, where such conditions can be adjusted, as desired, to provide for an optimum level of specificity in view of the particular assay being performed. Suitable hybridization conditions are well known to those of skill in the art and reviewed in Sambrook et al., 1989 and WO 95/21944. Of particular interest in many embodiments is the use of stringent conditions during hybridization. Stringent conditions are known to those of skill in the art.

It is specifically contemplated that a single array may be contacted with multiple samples. The samples may be labeled with different labels to distinguish the samples. For example, a single array can be contacted with a tumor tissue sample labeled with Cy3, and normal tissue sample labeled with Cy5. Differences between the samples for particular miRNAs corresponding to probes on the array can be readily ascertained and quantified.

The small surface area of the array permits uniform in hybridization conditions, such as temperature regulation and salt content. Moreover, because of the small area occupied by the high density arrays, hybridization may be carried out in extremely small fluid volumes (e.g., about 250 μl or less, including volumes of about or less than about 5, 10, 25, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 or any range derivable therein). In small volumes, hybridization may proceed very rapidly.

D. Differential Expression Analyses

Arrays of the invention can be used to detect differences between two samples. Specifically contemplated applications include identifying and/or quantifying differences between miRNA from a sample that is normal and from a sample that is not normal or between two differently treated samples. Also, miRNA may be compared between a sample believed to be susceptible to a particular disease or condition and one believed to be not susceptible or resistant to that disease or condition. A sample that is not normal is one exhibiting phenotypic trait(s) of a disease or condition or one believed to be not normal with respect to that disease or condition. It may be compared to a cell that is normal with respect to that disease or condition. Phenotypic traits include symptoms of, or susceptibility to, a disease or condition of which a component is or may or may not be genetic.

Particularly arrays can be used to evaluate samples with respect to diseases or conditions that include, but are not limited to, the following: AIDS, autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes—insulin-dependent and non-independent, systemic lupus erythematosus and Graves disease); cancer (e.g., malignant, benign, metastatic, precancer); cardiovascular diseases (heart disease or coronary artery disease, stroke—ischemic and hemorrhagic, and rheumatic heart disease); diseases of the nervous system; and infection by pathogenic microorganisms (Athlete's Foot, Chickenpox, Common cold, Diarrheal diseases, Flu, Genital herpes, Malaria, Meningitis, Pneumonia, Sinusitis, Skin diseases, Strep throat, Tuberculosis, Urinary tract infections, Vaginal infections, Viral hepatitis); inflammation (allergy, asthma); prion diseases (e.g., CJD, kuru, GSS, FFI).

Moreover, miRNA can be evaluated with respect to the following diseases, conditions, and disorders: Abdominal Adhesions; Anal Abscess; Brain Abscess; Peritonsillar Abscess; Absence Seizures; Achalasia; Acne; Acoustic Neuroma; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS); Acrochordon; Actinic Keratosis; Adenocarcinoma of the Lung; ADHD; Adult-Onset Diabetes; Aero-Otitis; Age Spots; Age-Related Hearing Loss; Age-Related Macular Degeneration; Age-Related Vision Change (Presbyopia); Agoraphobia; Alcohol Withdrawal; Alcoholism; Allergen Immunotherapy; Allergic Rhinitis; Allergies; Alopecia (Areata, Hereditary-Patterned, and Traumatic); Altitude Sickness; Alzheimer's Disease; Amaurotic Familial Infantile Idiocy; Amblyopia; Amenorrhea; Amyloidosis; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS); Anaphylaxis; Androgenetic Alopecia; Anemia (Aplastic, Hemolytic, Pernicious, and Sickle Cell); Angina; Angiomas, Spider; Angioplasty; Ankylosing Spondylitis; Anorexia Nervosa; Anovulatory Bleeding; Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea; Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Anus Fissure, Fistula, Hemorrhoids, Anus Itch, Stricture; Anxiety Disorders (Generalized, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Phobia, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder); Aortic Aneurysm; Aortic Arch Syndrome; Appendicitis; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Arteritis, Takayasu's; Arthritic Diseases (Ankylosing Spondylitis, Gout, Infectious, Juvenile, Osteoarthritis, Pseudogout, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Rheumatoid); Asbestosis; Ascending Cholangitis; Asteatotic Eczema; Asthma; Astigmatism; Asymptomatic Bacteriuria; Ataxia, Friedreich's; Atherosclerosis; Athlete's Foot; Atopic Dermatitis; Atrial Fibrillation; Atrophic Vaginitis; Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Autism; Autoimmune Diseases (Celiac Disease, Crohn's Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 (Insulin-Dependent; Juvenile-Onset), Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (Non-Insulin-Dependent; Adult-Onset), Graves' Disease, Hyperthyroidism, Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Lupus, Myasthenia Gravis, Polyarteritis Nodosa, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scleroderma, Takayasu's Arteritis, and Ulcerative Colitis); B12 Deficiency; Bacillary Dysentery; Bacterial Gastroenteritis; Bacterial Vaginosis; Balanitis; Baldness, Hereditary-Patterned; Barber's Itch; Barotitis; Barotrauma; Bartholin's Gland Cyst; Basal-Cell Carcinoma; Bed-Wetting; Bedsores; Behcet's Syndrome; Bell's Palsy; Bends; Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia; Bile-Duct Diseases; Biliary Colic; Biopsy; Bipolar Disorder; Bladder conditions (Infection; Interstitial Cystitis; Prolapse; Urethritis; Urinary Incontinence; Urinary Tract Infection); Blepharitis; Blepharoptosis; Blighted Ovum; Friction Blisters; Blood Pressure, High; Boils; Bone diseases and conditions (Osteoporosis; Paget's Disease); Bone Yaws; Borderline Personality Disorder; Bornholm Disease; Botulism; Bowel Obstruction; Bradycardia; Bronchitis; Bulimia Nervosa; Bunion; Bursitis; C. Difficile Colitis; Calcaneal Apophysitis; Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease; Campylobacteriosis; Cancer; Candidiasis; Carbon-Monoxide Poisoning; Carbuncles; Cardiac Arrhythmias (Atrial Fibrillation, Bradycardia); Cardiomyopathy; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; Cataracts; Cellulitis; Central Serous Retinopathy; Cerebral Palsy; Cerebromacular Degeneration; Cerumen Impaction; Cervicitis, Nabothian Cysts, Cervical Polyps, Cervical Warts; Chalazion; Chickenpox; Chlamydia; Chloasma; Cholangitis; Cholecystitis; Cholesteatoma; Chondromalacia; Chorea; Choroidal Melanoma; Chronic Bronchitis; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; Chronic Hepatitis; Chronic Leukemia; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Chronic Otitis Media; Cirrhosis; Cluster Headache; Cogan's Syndrome; Cold, Common; Colic, Biliary; Pseudomembranous Colitis, Ulcerative Colitis, Collapsed Lung; Collarbone Fracture; Coma; Complex Regional Pain Syndrome; Congestive Heart Failure; Conjunctivitis; Constipation; Contact Dermatitis; Conversion Disorder; COPD; Cornea Abrasion, Cornea Keratitis; Corns; Coronary Artery Disease; Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease; Crossed Eyes; Croup; Cryptorchidism; Cystic Fibrosis; Interstitial Cystitis; Cystocele; Cysts; Cytomegalovirus infection; Dacryocystitis; Dandruff; Decompression Sickness; Decubitus Ulcers; Delirium Tremens; Delusional Disorder; Dementia; Depressive Disorders (Bipolar Disorder, Dysthymia, Major Depression, Manic Depression, Postpartum Depression); Dermatitis; Dermatofibroma; Dermatomyositis; Detached Retina; Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip; Deviated Septum; Devil's Grip; Diabetes (Gestational Diabetes; Type 1Diabetes (Insulin-Dependent; Juvenile); Type 2 Diabetes (Non-Insulin-Dependent; Adult-Onset); Hypoglycemia, Ketoacidosis, Nephropathy, Neuropathies, Retinopathy) Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea; Diplopia; Herniated Disk; Dislocated Lens; Hip Dislocation (Developmental); Diverticulitis; Diverticulosis; Dizziness; Doerderland's Vaginitis; Double Vision; Down Syndrome; Drooping Eyelid; Dry Skin; Sun-Damaged Skin; Dry-Eye Syndrome; Duck-Foot; Dysautonomia, Familial; Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding; Dyslexia; Dyspareunia; Dysthymia; Dysuria; Eating Disorders (Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa); Eclampsia; Eczema; Edema; Emphysema; Encephalitis; Encopresis; End-Stage Renal Disease; Endocarditis; Endometriosis; Endophthalmitis; Endoscopy; Enlarged Prostate; Enuresis; Epidemic Benign Dry Pleurisy; Epididymitis; Epiglottitis; Epilepsy; Epistaxis; Erectile Dysfunction; Erythema Infectiosum; Esophagitis; Esophagus Achalasia; Esophagitis; Essential Hypertension; Essential Tremor; Ewing's Sarcoma; Familial Dysautonomia; Farsightedness; Febrile Seizures; Fecal Incontinence; Fever; Fever-Induced Seizures; Fibroids; Fibromyalgia; Fifth Disease; Filiform Warts; Flat Warts; Flatulence; Flu; Focal Seizures; Food Allergy; Food Poisoning; Forefoot Neuroma; Fragile X Syndrome; Friction Blisters; Friedreich's Ataxia; Frostbite; Fungal Infections (Athlete's Foot, Brain Abscess, Infectious Arthritis, Jock Itch, Onychomycosis, Ringworm, Swimmer's Ear, Tinea Cruris, Tinea Unguium, Tinea Versicolor); Furuncle; Gallstones; Gardnerella Vaginitis; Gastritis; Gastrocnemius Strain; Gastroenteritis; Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease; Gastrointestinal Amebiasis; Generalized Anxiety Disorder; Generalized Barotrauma; Genital Herpes; Genital Warts; GERD; Germ Cell Tumors, Extragonadal; Giant Cell Arteritis; Giardiasis; Glaucoma; Glomerulonephritis; Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy; GM2 Gangliosidosis; Gonorrhea; Gout; Grand Mal Seizures; Graves' Disease; Graves' Ophthalmopathy; Guillain-Barré Syndrome; Hammertoe; Hay Fever; Headache; Hearing Loss; Heart Attack; Heat Stroke; Heel Spur; Heloma; Spider Hemangiomas; Hematoma; Hematuria; Hemochromatosis; Hemolytic Anemia; Hemophilia; Hemorrhagic Stroke; Subarachnoid Hemorrhagic Stroke; Hemorrhoids; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Hereditary-Patterned Baldness; Hernia; Herniated Disk; High Blood Pressure; High Cholesterol; Hirsutism; Histiocytosis X; HIV/AIDS; Hordeolum; Human Papilloma Virus (HPV); Huntington's Disease; Hydatidiform Mole; Hydrocephalus; Hyperactivity; Hypercholesterolemia; Hyperkeratosis; Hyperopia; Hypertension; Ocular Hypertension; Secondary Hypertension; Hypertensive Retinopathy; Hyperthermia; Hyperthyroidism; Hypochondriasis; Hypoglycemia; Hypoparathyroidism; Hypothyroidism; IBS; ICD; Ichthyosis; Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura; Impetigo; Impotence; Incontinence; Infantile Ganglioside Lipidosis; Infectious Arthritis; Infectious Mononucleosis; Infertility; Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Inguinal Hernia; Insomnia; Intercerebral Hemorrhage; Interdigital Neuroma; Intermetatarsal Neuroma; Intermittent Claudication; Interstitial Cystitis; Intestinal Obstruction; Iron Deficiency; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Juvenile Arthritis; Kaposi's Sarcoma; Kawasaki Syndrome; Keloids; Keratitis; Actinic Keratosis; Labyrinthitis; Lactose Intolerance; Lacunar Stroke; Langerhans' Cell Histiocytosis; Laryngitis; Laryngotracheitis; Lateral Epicondylitis; Latex Allergy; Lazy Eye; Lead Poisoning; Intermittent Claudication; Restless Legs Syndrome; Shin Splints; Leg Strain; Cataract; Dislocated Lens; Leukemia; Lice; Lichen Simplex Chronicus; Cirrhosis; Hepatitis; Liver Spots; Lockjaw; Lou Gehrig's Disease; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Lyme Disease; Lymphedema; Lymphoma; Macular Degeneration; Malabsorption Syndromes; Malaria; Male Pattern Baldness; Malignant Hyperthermia; Manic Depression; Marfan's Syndrome; Mastoiditis; Measles; Meckel's Diverticulum; Melasma; Meniere's Disease; Meningitis; Menopause; Mental Retardation; Phenylketonuria; Migraine; Miscarriage; Mitral-Valve Prolapse; Mittelschmerz; Molar Pregnancy; Molluscum Contagiosum; Mononucleosis; Morton's Neuroma; Mosaic Warts; Motor Tics; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome; Multiple Sclerosis; Mumps; Muscular Dystrophy; Musculoskeletal Disorders (Fibromyalgia, Giant Cell Arteritis, Gout, Infectious Arthritis, Muscular Dystrophy, Myositis, Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis, Paget's Disease Of Bone, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Pseudogout, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scleroderma, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Tendonitis); Myasthenia Gravis; Myocardial Infarction; Myocarditis; Myopia; Myositis; Nail Felon; Onycholysis; Onychomycosis; Paronychia; Subungual Hematoma; Narcolepsy; Nasal Polyps; Nausea; Nearsightedness; Needle Biopsy; Nephrectomy; Nephroblastoma; Nephrolithiasis; Nephropathy, Diabetic; Neuritis, Retrobulbar; Neuroblastoma; Neuromuscular Disorders; Neuropathies; Guillain-Barre Syndrome; Retrobulbar; Nevi; Nevus Flammeus; Nevus Simplex; Nocturnal Enuresis; Non-Tropical Sprue; Obesity; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Occupational Hearing Loss; Ocular Hypertension; Ocular Rosacea; Onycholysis; Onychomycosis; Glaucoma; Retrobulbar Neuritis; Optic Nerve Swelling; Orbit Fracture; Orchitis; Osgood-Schlatter Disease; Osteoarthritis; Osteoporosis; Osteosarcoma; Otitis Externa; Otitis Media; Chronic Otitis Media; Otosclerosis; Ototoxicity; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Painful-Bladder Syndrome; Pancreatitis; Panic Disorder; Papilledema; Paraphimosis; Parkinson's Disease; Paronychia; Partial Seizures; PCL Injuries; Pedunculated Warts; Pelvic Relaxation; Paraphimosis; Peyronie's Disease; Peptic Ulcer; Perforated Eardrum; Pericarditis; Perimenopause; Peripheral Vascular Disease; Peritonsillar Abscess; Persistent Vegetative State; Personality Disorders; Petit Mal Seizures; Peyronie's Disease; Pharyngitis; Pharynx Cancer; Phenylketonuria; Phimosis; Phobia; Photosensitivity; Pigmentation Disorders (Chloasma, Melasma, Vitiligo); Piles; Pinkeye; Pityriasis Rosea; PKU; Plague; Plantar Fasciitis; Plantar Warts; Plantaris Strain; Pleurisy; Pleurodynia; PMS; Pneumoconiosis; Pneumonectomy; Pneumonia; Pneumothorax; Lead Poisoning; Polio; Poliomyelitis; Polyarteritis Nodosa; Polychondritis; Polymyalgia Rheumatica; Polymyositis; Colonic Polyps; Nasal Polyps; Vocal Cord Polyps; Port-Wine Stain; Post-Polio Syndrome; Postinfectious Thrombocytopenia; Postpartum Depression; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension; Premenstrual Syndrome; Pressure Sores; Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis; Prolapse; Enlarged Prostate; Acute Prostatitis; Chronic Prostatitis; Pruritus Ani; Pseudogout; Psoriasis; Psoriatic Arthritis; Ptosis; Pulseless Disease; Pyelonephritis; Quadriceps Strain; Quinsy; Rash; Raynaud's Phenomenon; Rectal Itch; Rectocele; Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy; Renal Failure; Respiratory Disorders Respiratory Syncytial Virus; Retina Detachment; Retinitis Pigmentosa; Retinopathy; Retrobulbar Neuritis; Reye's Syndrome; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Rheumatoid Arthritis; Allergic Rhinitis; Viral Rhinitis (Common Cold); Riley-Day Syndrome; Ringworm; Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever; Rosacea; Rubeola; Mumps; Salivary Gland Disorders; Salmon Patch; Sarcoidosis; Scabies; Scarlet Fever; Scars; Schizophrenia; Schizotypal Personality Disorder; Sciatica; Scleritis; Scleroderma; Scoliosis; Sebaceous Cysts; Seborrhea; Seborrheic Keratoses; Secondary Hypertension; Seizures; Sexual Dysfunction; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Shigellosis; Shingles; Sialadenitis; Sialadenosis; Sialolithiasis; Sickle-Cell Anemia; Siderosis; Silicosis; Sinus Cancer; Sjögren's Syndrome; Sleep Disorders; Smallpox; Social Anxiety Disorder; Solar Lentigo; Somatoform Disorders (Hypochondriasis, Somatization Disorder); Somnambulism; Spastic Colon; Spider Veins; Spina Bifida; Spinal Cord Trauma; Spontaneous Abortion; Stasis Dermatitis; Strabismus; Strep Throat; Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome; Stroke; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage; Transient Ischemic Attack; Stuttering; Subungual Hematoma; Sun Allergy; Sun-Damaged Skin; Sylvest's Disease; Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; Systemic Sclerosis; Tachycardia; Takayasu's Arteritis; Tay-Sachs Disease; Tear-Duct Infection; Telogen Effluvium; Temporal Arteritis; Tendonitis; Tennis Elbow; Tension Headache; Testicular Torsion; Undescended Testicles; Tetanus; Thrombocytopenia; Thrombophlebitis; Thrombotic Stroke; Tinea; Tinnitus; Tonsillitis; Torsional Deformities; Toxemia Of Pregnancy; Toxic Shock Syndrome, Streptococcal; Toxoplasmosis; Trichomoniasis; Trigeminal Neuralgia (Tic Douloureux); Tuberculosis; Tylosis; Ulcer; Urethritis; Urinary Tract disorders and conditions; Uroliniasis; Urticaria; Uterine disorders; Uterine Prolapse; Uveitis; Vaginitis; Bacterial (Gardnerella) Vaginosis; Varicella; Varices, Esophageal; Varicose Veins; Vascular Disorders (Hypertension, Intermittent Claudication, Peripheral Vascular Disease, Polyarteritis Nodosa, Raynaud's Phenomenon, Takayasu's Arteritis, Thrombophlebitis, Vasculitis, Wegener's Granulomatosis); Vein Inflammation; Varicose Veins; Vertigo; Vestibular Schwannoma; Viral Rhinitis; Vitamin B12 Deficiency; Vitiligo; Vocal Tics; Vocal-Cord Disorders; Common Warts; Genital Warts; Plantar Warts; Water On The Brain; Wax Blockage Of Ear Canal; Esophageal Webs; Werlhofs Disease; Wrinkles; Yersinia Pestis Infection.

Cancers that may be evaluated by methods and compositions of the invention include cancer cells from the bladder, blood, bone, bone marrow, brain, breast, colon, esophagus, gastrointestine, gum, head, kidney, liver, lung, nasopharynx, neck, ovary, prostate, skin, stomach, testis, tongue, or uterus. In addition, the cancer may specifically be of the following histological type, though it is not limited to these: neoplasm, malignant; carcinoma; carcinoma, undifferentiated; giant and spindle cell carcinoma; small cell carcinoma; papillary carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma; lymphoepithelial carcinoma; basal cell carcinoma; pilomatrix carcinoma; transitional cell carcinoma; papillary transitional cell carcinoma; adenocarcinoma; gastrinoma, malignant; cholangiocarcinoma; hepatocellular carcinoma; combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma; trabecular adenocarcinoma; adenoid cystic carcinoma; adenocarcinoma in adenomatous polyp; adenocarcinoma, familial polyposis coli; solid carcinoma; carcinoid tumor, malignant; branchiolo-alveolar adenocarcinoma; papillary adenocarcinoma; chromophobe carcinoma; acidophil carcinoma; oxyphilic adenocarcinoma; basophil carcinoma; clear cell adenocarcinoma; granular cell carcinoma; follicular adenocarcinoma; papillary and follicular adenocarcinoma; nonencapsulating sclerosing carcinoma; adrenal cortical carcinoma; endometroid carcinoma; skin appendage carcinoma; apocrine adenocarcinoma; sebaceous adenocarcinoma; ceruminous adenocarcinoma; mucoepidermoid carcinoma; cystadenocarcinoma; papillary cystadenocarcinoma; papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma; mucinous cystadenocarcinoma; mucinous adenocarcinoma; signet ring cell carcinoma; infiltrating duct carcinoma; medullary carcinoma; lobular carcinoma; inflammatory carcinoma; paget's disease, mammary; acinar cell carcinoma; adenosquamous carcinoma; adenocarcinoma w/squamous metaplasia; thymoma, malignant; ovarian stromal tumor, malignant; thecoma, malignant; granulosa cell tumor, malignant; androblastoma, malignant; sertoli cell carcinoma; leydig cell tumor, malignant; lipid cell tumor, malignant; paraganglioma, malignant; extra-mammary paraganglioma, malignant; pheochromocytoma; glomangiosarcoma; malignant melanoma; amelanotic melanoma; superficial spreading melanoma; malig melanoma in giant pigmented nevus; epithelioid cell melanoma; blue nevus, malignant; sarcoma; fibrosarcoma; fibrous histiocytoma, malignant; myxosarcoma; liposarcoma; leiomyosarcoma; rhabdomyosarcoma; embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma; alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma; stromal sarcoma; mixed tumor, malignant; mullerian mixed tumor; nephroblastoma; hepatoblastoma; carcinosarcoma; mesenchymoma, malignant; brenner tumor, malignant; phyllodes tumor, malignant; synovial sarcoma; mesothelioma, malignant; dysgerminoma; embryonal carcinoma; teratoma, malignant; struma ovarii, malignant; choriocarcinoma; mesonephroma, malignant; hemangiosarcoma; hemangioendothelioma, malignant; kaposi's sarcoma; hemangiopericytoma, malignant; lymphangiosarcoma; osteosarcoma; juxtacortical osteosarcoma; chondrosarcoma; chondroblastoma, malignant; mesenchymal chondrosarcoma; giant cell tumor of bone; ewing's sarcoma; odontogenic tumor, malignant; ameloblastic odontosarcoma; ameloblastoma, malignant; ameloblastic fibrosarcoma; pinealoma, malignant; chordoma; glioma, malignant; ependymoma; astrocytoma; protoplasmic astrocytoma; fibrillary astrocytoma; astroblastoma; glioblastoma; oligodendroglioma; oligodendroblastoma; primitive neuroectodermal; cerebellar sarcoma; ganglioneuroblastoma; neuroblastoma; retinoblastoma; olfactory neurogenic tumor; meningioma, malignant; neurofibrosarcoma; neurilemmoma, malignant; granular cell tumor, malignant; malignant lymphoma; Hodgkin's disease; Hodgkin's lymphoma; paragranuloma; malignant lymphoma, small lymphocytic; malignant lymphoma, large cell, diffuse; malignant lymphoma, follicular; mycosis fungoides; other specified non-Hodgkin's lymphomas; malignant histiocytosis; multiple myeloma; mast cell sarcoma; immunoproliferative small intestinal disease; leukemia; lymphoid leukemia; plasma cell leukemia; erythroleukemia; lymphosarcoma cell leukemia; myeloid leukemia; basophilic leukemia; eosinophilic leukemia; monocytic leukemia; mast cell leukemia; megakaryoblastic leukemia; myeloid sarcoma; and hairy cell leukemia. Moreover, miRNA can be evaluated in precancers, such as metaplasia, dysplasia, and hyperplasia.

It is specifically contemplated that the invention can be used to evaluate differences between stages of disease, such as between pre-cancer and cancer, or between a primary tumor and a metastasized tumor.

Moreover, it is contemplated that samples that have differences in the activity of certain pathways may also be compared. These pathways include the following and those involving the following factors: antibody response, apoptosis, calcium/NFAT signaling, cell cycle, cell migration, cell adhesion, cell division, cytokines and cytokine receptors, drug metabolism, growth factors and growth factor receptors, inflammatory response, insulin signaling, NFκ-B signaling, angiogenesis, adipogenesis, cell adhesion, viral infecton, bacterial infection, senescence, motility, glucose transport, stress response, oxidation, aging, telomere extension, telomere shortening, neural transmission, blood clotting, stem cell differentiation, G-Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) signaling, and p53 activation.

Cellular pathways that may be profiled also include but are not limited to the following: any adhesion or motility pathway including but not limited to those involving cyclic AMP, protein kinase A, G-protein couple receptors, adenylyl cyclase, L-selectin, E-selectin, PECAM, VCAM-1, α-actinin, paxillin, cadherins, AKT, integrin-α, integrin-β, RAF-1, ERK, PI-3 kinase, vinculin, matrix metalloproteinases, Rho GTPases, p85, trefoil factors, profilin, FAK, MAP kinase, Ras, caveolin, calpain-1, calpain-2, epidermal growth factor receptor, ICAM-1, ICAM-2, cofilin, actin, gelsolin, RhoA, RAC1, myosin light chain kinase, platelet-derived growth factor receptor or ezrin; any apoptosis pathway including but not limited to those involving AKT, Fas ligand, NF_(κ)B, caspase-9, PI3 kinase, caspase-3, caspase-7, ICAD, CAD, EndoG, Granzyme B, Bad, Bax, Bid, Bak, APAF-1, cytochrome C, p53, ATM, Bcl-2, PARP, Chk1, Chk2, p21, c-Jun, p73, Rad51, Mdm2, Rad50, c-Abl, BRCA-1, perforin, caspase-4, caspase-8, caspase-6, caspase-1, caspase-2, caspase-10, Rho, Jun kinase, Jun kinase kinase, Rip2, lamin-A, lamin-B1, lamin-B2, Fas receptor, H₂O₂ Granzyme A, NADPH oxidase, HMG2, CD4, CD28, CD3, TRADD, IKK, FADD, GADD45, DR3 death receptor, DR4/5 death receptor, FLIPs, APO-3, GRB2, SHC, ERK, MEK, RAF-1, cyclic AMP, protein kinase A, E2F, retinoblastoma protein, Smac/Diablo, ACH receptor, 14-3-3, FAX, SODD, TNF receptor, RIP, cyclin-D1, PCNA, Bcl-XL, PIP2, PIP3, PTEN, ATM, Cdc2, protein kinase C, calcineurin, IKKα, IKKβ, IKKγ, SOS-1, c-FOS, Traf-1, Traf-2, I_(κ)Bβ or the proteasome; any cell activation pathway including but not limited to those involving protein kinase A, nitric oxide, caveolin-1, actin, calcium, protein kinase C, Cdc2, cyclin B, Cdc25, GRB2, SRC protein kinase, ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs), phospholipase D, AKAP95, p68, Aurora B, CDK1, Eg7, histone H3, PKAc, CD80, PI3 kinase, WASP, Arp2, Arp3, p16, p34, p20, PP2A, angiotensin, angiotensin-converting enzyme, protease-activated receptor-1, protease-activated receptor-4, Ras, RAF-1, PLCβ, PLCγ, COX-1, G-protein-coupled receptors, phospholipase A2, IP3, SUMO1, SUMO 2/3, ubiquitin, Ran, Ran-GAP, Ran-GEF, p53, glucocorticoids, glucocorticoid receptor, components of the SWI/SNF complex, RanBP1, RanBP2, importins, exportins, RCC1, CD40, CD40 ligand, p38, IKKα, IKKβ, NF_(κ)B, TRAF2, TRAF3, TRAF5, TRAF6, IL-4, IL-4 receptor, CDK5, AP-1 transcription factor, CD45, CD4, T cell receptors, MAP kinase, nerve growth factor, nerve growth factor receptor, c-Jun, c-Fos, Jun kinase, GRB2, SOS-1, ERK-1, ERK, JAK2, STAT4, IL-12, IL-12 receptor, nitric oxide synthase, TYK2, IFNγ, elastase, IL-8, epithelins, IL-2, IL-2 receptor, CD28, SMAD3, SMAD4, TGFβ or TGFβ receptor; any cell cycle regulation, signaling or differentiation pathway including but not limited to those involving TNFs, SRC protein kinase, Cdc2, cyclin B, Grb2, Sos-1, SHC, p68, Aurora kinases, protein kinase A, protein kinase C, Eg7, p53, cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases, neural growth factor, epidermal growth factor, retinoblastoma protein, ATF-2, ATM, ATR, AKT, CHK1, CHK2, 14-3-3, WEE1, CDC25 CDC6, Origin Recognition Complex proteins, p15, p16, p27, p21, ABL, c-ABL, SMADs, ubiquitin, SUMO, heat shock proteins, Wnt, GSK-3, angiotensin, p73 any PPAR, TGFα, TGFβ, p300, MDM2, GADD45, Notch, cdc34, BRCA-1, BRCA-2, SKP1, the proteasome, CUL1, E2F, p107, steroid hormones, steroid hormone receptors, I_(κ)Bα, I_(κ)Bβ, Sin3A, heat shock proteins, Ras, Rho, ERKs, IKKs, PI3 kinase, Bcl-2, Bax, PCNA, MAP kinases, dynein, RhoA, PKAc, cyclin AMP, FAK, PIP2, PIP3, integrins, thrombopoietin, Fas, Fas ligand, PLK3, MEKs, JAKs, STATs, acetylcholine, paxillin calcineurin, p38, importins, exportins, Ran, Rad50, Rad51, DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase, Ran-GAP, Ran-GEF, NuMA, Tpx2, RCC1, Sonic Hedgehog, Crm1, Patched (Ptc-1), MPF, CaM kinases, tubulin, actin, kinetochore-associated proteins, centromere-binding proteins, telomerase, TERT, PP2A, c-MYC, insulin, T cell receptors, B cell receptors, CBP, IKB, NF_(κ)B, RAC1, RAF1, EPO, diacylglycerol, c-Jun, c-Fos, Jun kinase, hypoxia-inducible factors, GATA4, β-catenin, α-catenin, calcium, arrestin, survivin, caspases, procaspases, CREB, CREM, cadherins, PECAMs, corticosteroids, colony-stimulating factors, calpains, adenylyl cyclase, growth factors, nitric oxide, transmembrane receptors, retinoids, G-proteins, ion channels, transcriptional activators, transcriptional coactivators, transcriptional repressors, interleukins, vitamins, interferons, transcriptional corepressors, the nuclear pore, nitrogen, toxins, proteolysis, or phosphorylation; or any metabolic pathway including but not limited to those involving the biosynthesis of amino acids, oxidation of fatty acids, biosynthesis of neurotransmitters and other cell signaling molecules, biosynthesis of polyamines, biosynthesis of lipids and sphingolipids, catabolism of amino acids and nutrients, nucleotide synthesis, eicosanoids, electron transport reactions, ER-associated degradation, glycolysis, fibrinolysis, formation of ketone bodies, formation of phagosomes, cholesterol metabolism, regulation of food intake, energy homeostasis, prothrombin activation, synthesis of lactose and other sugars, multi-drug resistance, biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine, the proteasome, amyloid precursor protein, Rab GTPases, starch synthesis, glycosylation, synthesis of phoshoglycerides, vitamins, the citric acid cycle, IGF-1 receptor, the urea cycle, vesicular transport, or salvage pathways. It is further contemplated that nucleic acids molecules of the invention can be employed in diagnostic and therapeutic methods with respect to any of the above pathways or factors. Thus, in some embodiments of the invention, an miRNA may be differentially expressed with respect to one or more of the above pathways or factors.

Phenotypic traits also include characteristics such as longevity, morbidity, appearance (e.g., baldness, obesity), strength, speed, endurance, fertility, susceptibility or receptivity to particular drugs or therapeutic treatments (drug efficacy), and risk of drug toxicity. Samples that differ in these phenotypic traits may also be evaluated using the arrays and methods described.

In certain embodiments, miRNA profiles may be generated to evaluate and correlate those profiles with pharmacokinetics. For example, miRNA profiles may be created and evaluated for patient tumor and blood samples prior to the patient's being treated or during treatment to determine if there are miRNAs whose expression correlates with the outcome of the patient. Identification of differential miRNAs can lead to a diagnostic assay involving them that can be used to evaluate tumor and/or blood samples to determine what drug regimen the patient should be provided. In addition, it can be used to identify or select patients suitable for a particular clinical trial. If an miRNA profile is determined to be correlated with drug efficacy or drug toxicity, that may be relevant to whether that patient is an appropriate patient for receiving the drug or for a particular dosage of the drug.

In addition to the above prognostic assay, blood samples from patients with a variety of diseases can be evaluated to determine if different diseases can be identified based on blood miRNA levels. A diagnostic assay can be created based on the profiles that doctors can use to identify individuals with a disease or who are at risk to develop a disease. Alternatively, treatments can be designed based on miRNA profiling. Examples of such methods and compositions are described in the U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled “Methods and Compositions Involving miRNA and miRNA Inhibitor Molecules” filed on May 23, 2005 in the names of David brown, Lance Ford, Angie Cheng and Rich Jarvis, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

E. Other Assays

In addition to the use of arrays and microarrays, it is contemplated that a number of difference assays could be employed to analyze miRNAs, their activities, and their effects. Such assays include, but are not limited to, RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, hybridization protection assay (HPA) (GenProbe), branched DNA (bDNA) assay (Chiron), rolling circle amplification (RCA), single molecule hybridization detection (US Genomics), Invader assay (ThirdWave Technologies), Bridge Litigation Assay (Genaco).

III. Kits

Any of the compositions described herein may be comprised in a kit. In a non-limiting example, reagents for isolating miRNA, labeling miRNA, and/or evaluating an miRNA population using an array are included in a kit. The kit may further include reagents for creating or synthesizing miRNA probes. The kits will thus comprise, in suitable container means, an enzyme for labeling the miRNA by incorporating labeled nucleotide or unlabeled nucleotides that are subsequently labeled. It may also include one or more buffers, such as reaction buffer, labeling buffer, washing buffer, or a hybridization buffer, compounds for preparing the miRNA probes, and components for isolating miRNA. Other kits of the invention may include components for making a nucleic acid array comprising miRNA, and thus, may include, for example, a solid support.

Kits are also included as part of the invention. Kits for implementing methods of the invention described herein are specifically contemplated. In some embodiments, there are kits for preparing miRNA for multi-labeling and kits for preparing miRNA probes and/or miRNA arrays. In these embodiments, kit comprise, in suitable container means, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or more of the following: 1) poly(A) polymerase; 2) unmodified nucleotides (G, A, T, C, and/or U); 3) a modified nucleotide (labeled or unlabeled); 4) poly(A) polymerase buffer; and, 5) at least one microfilter; 6) label that can be attached to a nucleotide; 7) at least one miRNA probe; 8) reaction buffer; 9) an miRNA array or components for making such an array; 10) acetic acid; 11) alcohol; 12) solutions for preparing, isolating, enriching, and purifying miRNAs or miRNA probes or arrays. Other reagents include those generally used for manipulating RNA, such as formamide, loading dye, ribonuclease inhibitors, and DNase.

In specific embodiments, kits of the invention include an array containing miRNA probes, as described in the application. An array may have probes corresponding to all known miRNAs of an organism, or to a subset of such probes. The subset of probes on arrays of the invention may be or include those identified as relevant to a particular diagnostic, therapeutic, or prognostic application. For example, the array may contain one or more probes that is indicative or suggestive of 1) a disease or condition, 2) susceptibility or resistance to a particular drug or treatment; 3) susceptibility to toxicity from a drug or substance; 4) the stage of development or severity of a disease or condition (prognosis); and 5) genetic predisposition to a disease or condition.

For any kit embodiment, including an array, there can be nucleic acid molecules that contain a sequence that is identical or complementary to all or part of any of SEQ ID NOS: 1-899. In certain embodiments, a kit or array of the invention can contain one or more probes for SEQ ID NOS:1-703 and SEQ ID NO:899 and/or include one or more probes having all or part of the sequence in any of SEQ ID NOs:704-898. Any nucleic acid discussed above may be implemented as part of a kit.

The components of the kits may be packaged either in aqueous media or in lyophilized form. The container means of the kits will generally include at least one vial, test tube, flask, bottle, syringe or other container means, into which a component may be placed, and preferably, suitably aliquoted. Where there is more than one component in the kit (labeling reagent and label may be packaged together), the kit also will generally contain a second, third or other additional container into which the additional components may be separately placed. However, various combinations of components may be comprised in a vial. The kits of the present invention also will typically include a means for containing the nucleic acids, and any other reagent containers in close confinement for commercial sale. Such containers may include injection or blow-molded plastic containers into which the desired vials are retained.

When the components of the kit are provided in one and/or more liquid solutions, the liquid solution is an aqueous solution, with a sterile aqueous solution being particularly preferred.

However, the components of the kit may be provided as dried powder(s). When reagents and/or components are provided as a dry powder, the powder can be reconstituted by the addition of a suitable solvent. It is envisioned that the solvent may also be provided in another container means. In some embodiments, labeling dyes are provided as a dried power. It is contemplated that 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000 μg or at least or at most those amounts of dried dye are provided in kits of the invention. The dye may then be resuspended in any suitable solvent, such as DMSO.

The container means will generally include at least one vial, test tube, flask, bottle, syringe and/or other container means, into which the nucleic acid formulations are placed, preferably, suitably allocated. The kits may also comprise a second container means for containing a sterile, pharmaceutically acceptable buffer and/or other diluent.

The kits of the present invention will also typically include a means for containing the vials in close confinement for commercial sale, such as, e.g., injection and/or blow-molded plastic containers into which the desired vials are retained.

Such kits may also include components that facilitate isolation of the labeled miRNA. It may also include components that preserve or maintain the miRNA or that protect against its degradation. Such components may be RNAse-free or protect against RNAses. Such kits generally will comprise, in suitable means, distinct containers for each individual reagent or solution.

A kit will also include instructions for employing the kit components as well the use of any other reagent not included in the kit. Instructions may include variations that can be implemented.

Kits of the invention may also include one or more of the following: Control RNA; nuclease-free water; RNase-free containers, such as 1.5 ml tubes; RNase-free elution tubes; PEG or dextran; ethanol; acetic acid; sodium acetate; ammonium acetate; guanidinium; detergent; nucleic acid size marker; RNase-free tube tips; and RNase or DNase inhibitors.

It is contemplated that such reagents are embodiments of kits of the invention. Such kits, however, are not limited to the particular items identified above and may include any reagent used for the manipulation or characterization of miRNA.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are included to demonstrate preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow represent techniques discovered by the inventor to function well in the practice of the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute preferred modes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Unless otherwise designated, catalog numbers refer to products available by that number from Ambion, Inc.®, The RNA Company.

Example 1 miRNA Isolation and Enrichment

miRNA was obtained from cell or tissue samples using a two-step process. In the first, all of the RNA in the sample is isolated away from the other contents of the sample. In the second step, the small RNAs that include miRNAs are preferentially extracted from the sample to create an RNA fraction that is significantly enriched for miRNAs.

A. Total RNA Isolation

Although there are a variety of methods that can be used to recover all of the RNA in a sample, silica binding and RNA elution were used as described below:

For tissue samples, 1 ml of Lysis/Binding Solution [4 M Guanidinium Thiocyanate, 0.5% N Lauryl Sarcosine, 25 mM NaCltrate pH 7.2, 0.1 M 2-Mercaptoethanol] per 0.1 g of tissue was added. The samples were kept cold, and the tissue was thoroughly disrupted in Lysis/Binding Solution using a motorized rotor-stator homogenizer. For cell samples, 0.6 ml of Lysis/Binding Solution was added per 10⁷ cells. The cells were lysed by vortexing for 30-60 seconds.

A 1/10 volume of glacial acetic acid was added to the homogenate. For example, if the lysate volume was 300 μl, 30 μl glacial acetic acid was added. The sample was then mixed well by vortexing or inverting the tube several times before leaving it on ice for 10 min.

A volume of Acid-Phenol:Chloroform equal to the sample lysate volume was added to the sample and then vortexed for 30-60 sec to mix it. The mixture was centrifuged for 5 min at maximum speed (10,000×g) at room temp to separate the aqueous and organic phases. The aqueous (upper) phase was carefully removed without disturbing the lower phase and transferred to a fresh tube. 1.25 volumes of 100% ethanol was added to the aqueous phase (e.g., if 300 μl was recovered from the aqueous phase, 375 μl of ethanol was added). The lysate/ethanol mixture (from the previous step) was pipetted onto a glass fiber filter column. The column was then centrifuged at RCF (relative centrifugal force) 10,000×g for approximately 15 sec to pass the mixture through the filter. After discarding the flow-through, the process was repeated until all of the lysate/ethanol mixture passed through the filter.

700 μl of miRNA Wash Solution 1 [1.6 M Guanidinium Thiocyanate, 30% EtOH] was applied to the filter column, which was subsequently centrifuged for ˜5-10 sec or placed under a vacuum to pull the solution through the filter. The flow-through was discarded. 500 μl of Wash Solution 2/3 [100 mM NaCl, 4.5 mM EDTA, 10 mM Tris pH 7.5] was applied to the filter column and drawn through it as in the previous step. The wash was repeated with a second 500 μl aliquot of Wash Solution 2/3. After discarding the flow-through from the last wash, the assembly was spun for 1 min to remove residual fluid from the filter. 100 μl of room temp nuclease-free water was added to the center of the filter, and the cap was closed. It was spun for approximately 20-30 seconds at maximum speed to recover the RNA.

B. miRNA Enrichment

The miRNA labeling process is most effective with samples that lack most of the larger mRNAs and rRNAs that are in a total RNA sample. To remove these RNAs from the samples, one of the following was employed: an enrichment process to remove the vast majority of the RNA in a sample that is greater than 70 nucleotides or a gel purification process to obtain a population of RNAs that were 15-30 nucleotides in length.

1. Removal of Other RNAs

To the isolated total RNA, 300 μl of Lysis/Binding Solution was added. 100 μl of 100% ethanol was then added. It was mixed thoroughly by vortexing or inverting the tube several times.

The lysate/ethanol mixture was pipetted onto a glass fiber filter column and centrifuged for ˜15 sec at RCF 10,000×g (typically 10,000 rpm). The filtrate was collected and A 2/3 volume of 100% ethanol was added to the filtrate (i.e., flow-through) and it was mixed thoroughly.

The filtrate/ethanol mixture (from the previous step) was pipetted onto a new glass fiber filter column. The column was centrifuged at RCF (relative centrifugal force) 10,000×g for approximately 15 sec to pass the mixture through the filter. 700 μl of miRNA Wash Solution 1 [1.6 M Guanidinium Thiocyanate, 30% EtOH] was applied to the filter column, which was subsequently centrifuged for ˜5-10 sec or placed under a vacuum to pull the solution through the filter. The flow-through was discarded. 500 μl of Wash Solution 2/3 [100 mM NaCl, 4.5 mM EDTA, 10 mM Tris pH 7.5] was applied to the filter column and drawn through it as in the previous step. The wash was repeated with a second 500 μl aliquot of Wash Solution 2/3. After discarding the flow-through from the last wash, the assembly was spun for 1 min to remove residual fluid from the filter. 100 μl of room temp nuclease-free water was added to the center of the filter, and the cap was closed. It was spun for approximately 20-30 seconds at maximum speed to recover the miRNA. The miRNA was lyophilized and stored until labeled for analysis.

2. Gel Purification

Isolating the miRNAs in a sample away from contaminating mRNAs, tRNAs, and rRNAs can be done using gel electrophoresis. Two methods for gel electrophoresis were used. The first features standard gel conditions and excision of the miRNA fraction of the gel following electrophoresis. The second features a method called tube electrophoresis wherein gel-filled tubes are used to fractionate RNA samples and facilitate recovery of the miRNA fraction.

a. Standard Gel Purification

An equal volume of Gel Loading Buffer (95% formamide, 18 mM EDTA, 0.01% xylene cyanol and 0.01% bromophenol blue) was added to as much as 150 μg of total RNA. The mixture was then heated for 5 minutes at 95° C. in a water bath and applied to a 15% denaturing polyacrylamide gel to fractionate the RNA.

After the gel was run, the gel slice corresponding to 19-30 nt (from under xylene cyanol to between bromophenol blue and xylene cyanol) was excised. The miRNA was extracted by incubating the gel slice in 10 volumes of Gel Elution Buffer (0.5 mM NaCl, 10 mM EDTA) at 4° C. overnight. This was then centrifuged at 2500 rpm (1000 XG) and the Gel Elution Buffer was removed and placed into a new tube. Two volumes of Gel Elution Buffer was added to the gel and incubated for 60 min at room temperature. Again, this was centrifuged and the Gel Elution Buffer samples were pooled.

The recovered and pooled buffer samples were mixed with enough 100% ethanol to create a 60% final ethanol concentration. The sample/ethanol was loaded onto glass fiber filter column and a vacuum was applied. Two volumes of miRNA Binding/Washing Buffer (0.5 mM NaCl, 55% ethanol) was applied to the column. The column was then placed in a sample collection tube. The column was washed with 0.6 ml of miRNA Binding/Washing Buffer. The column was then centrifuged at 10,000×G for at least 1 minute. The filtrate was removed and the column was centrifuged again at 10,000×G for 1 minute. 50 μl of hot (95° C.) nuclease-free water was added to the column and centrifuged at 10,000×G for 30 seconds. The previous two steps were repeated with a second 50 μl wash. The miRNA was lyophilized and stored until labeling.

b. Gel Purification by Tube Electrophoresis

Tube electrophoresis is a method whereby nylon tubing is filled with a polyacrylamide gel matrix and the gel tube is placed in a special electrophoresis device. The total RNA sample is added to the top of the tube and an electric current is applied to fractionate the RNA based on size. The miRNA fraction is captured when it flows from the end of the tube into the electrophoresis buffer. The miRNA is then recovered from the buffer. This process is described in greater detail below.

The gel cartridge was prepared by cutting nylon 6 tubing into lengths of approximately 10-15 inches. Gentle pressure was applied during the cutting to avoid crushing and/or cracking it. The tubing was placed on a glass plate and heated in an oven for 6-12 minutes at 180° C. After the tubing was removed from the oven, each end of the tubing was held to straighten the length until the plastic cooled.

A 16% Denaturing Acrylamide solution was prepared by mixing 4 mL 20% acrylamide/7M Urea/1×TBE with 1 mL 7M Urea/1×TBE. Added to this was 50 μL of 10% APS+5 μL TEMED. After mixing the solution, the gel mix was drawn up into the tubing using a Drummond pipettor. The gel was allowed to polymerize for 30 minutes.

The tubing was then cut to fit in a 50 mL, conical. The tubing was soaked overnight in 1×TBE solution (10×TBE Cat #9866). Upon use, 1.2 cm tube lengths were cut using gentle pressure. The cartridge was loaded into the tube electrophoresis apparatus using the lower buffer chamber platform. The gel cartridge was placed on its end and the upper plate cartridge receptacle hole was aligned. With firm and even pressure, the tube cartridge was slid into place. 200 μL 1×TBE was added to the bottom cartridge so that it surrounded the bottom of the gel cartridge, and the top platform was put in place. 125 μL 1×TBE was put into the upper buffer chamber, which was checked for leaks before the sample was added.

The sample was prepared by adding an equal volume of deionized formamide (Cat#9342) to total RNA (total volume ≦50 μL). 2 μL of filtered serva blue R dye (5 mg/mL) was added to the sample, which was then heated at 95° C. for 2 minutes. The sample was then applied to the upper buffer chamber just above the gel surface. The gel was run at 70V for 7-10 minutes. The miRNA fraction 40 bp) was allowed to migrate off the gel into the lower buffer chamber. The gel was stopped when the serva blue dye, which designates a 40 nucleotide species, reached the bottom of the gel. The 200 μL buffer was collected from the lower chamber and placed in an eppendorf tube.

15 μL 0.5 mg/mL linear acrylamide (5 mg/mL Cat#7118), 60 μL 5 M NaCl, and 400 μL absolute EtOH were added to the sample. A glass filter fiber column (Cat#100660) was prepared by prewetting with Wash Solution #1 (0.5 M NaCl; 55% EtOH). The sample was added to the column. The column was spun for 1 min at 5000 rpm. 500 μL of wash solution #2 (80% EtOH) was added to the column, which was spun again for 1 min at 5000 rpm. The column was spun again for 1 min at 10000 rpm to get rid of any excess EtOH. 15 μL of H₂O, heated at 95° C., was applied to the column, which was allowed to sit at room temperature (RT) for 2 mm. The column was then spun for 1 min at 10000 rpm. Another 15 μL of heated elution solution was added. After sitting at RT for 2 min, the column was spun for 1 min at 10000 rpm. The sample was lyophilized and stored until labeling.

Example 2 Labeling miRNAs: Factors Affecting Reaction

A. Appending Various Nucleotides to the 3′ Ends of miRNAs with E. coli Poly(A) Polymerase

PolyA tails of several hundred nucleotides were efficiently added to the 3′ ends of miRNAs using ATP and E. coli Poly(A) Polymerase. Other nucleotides could also serve as substrates for the enzyme, most notably UTP. Modified nucleotides like 5-(3-aminoallyl)-UTP, adenosine′ 5′-(1-thiotriphosphate), uridine′ 5′-(1-thiotriphosphate), 8-[(4-amino)butyl]-amino-ATP, and 8-[(6-amino)butyl]-amino-ATP were substrates for E. coli Poly(A) Polymerase, but the lengths of the 3′ tails were significantly shorter than those generated with ATP and UTP. When only modified nucleotides were in the Poly(A) Polymerase reaction, the tails were typically 3-10 nucleotides long.

Various mixtures of standard and modified NTP (ATP or UTP) were tested for their capacity to be incorporated by polyA polymerase. The length of the tail could be extended tremendously adding as little as 10 μM standard NTP to the reaction. The labeling efficiency of miRNAs samples tailed with fluorescent NTP only was compared to the labeling efficiency of ones with fluorescent NTP to various ratios of standard NTP. The optimal modified NTP:standard NTP ratio was 5:1 under these conditions.

B. Radio-Labeling and Fluorescently Labeling miRNAs

miRNAs were labeled in a variety of ways. For radiolabeling, α-³²P-ATP or α-³²P-UTP at 0.5-5 μM was used in a Poly(A) Polymerase reaction. Several hundred nucleotides can be appended to each miRNA, providing substantial radioactive signal for each miRNA. For fluorescent labeling, either a dye-labeled nucleotide (in addition to a carrier standard nucleotide) is incorporated or a nucleotide with a reactive group to which can be appended a dye molecule following the tailing reaction is incorporated. The latter method generated longer tails with greater fluorescence. The use of aminoallyl UTP at a final concentration of 500 μM and UTP at a final concentration of 100 μM were conditions that provided favorable results. This combination typically yielded tails of 10-50 nucleotides and presumably as many as 20 dye molecules per miRNA.

C. Poly(A) Polymerase Reaction Optimization

The Poly(A) Polymerase reaction conditions described in the literature were not very efficient when using the ng and sub-nanogram amounts of miRNA that were isolated from samples of total RNA. The addition of volume exclusion reagents like polyethylene glycol (PEG) significantly improved the labeling reaction. 10% PEG provides as much as ten times more labeled material in samples with 0.1 ng of miRNA.

D. pH Optimization

Optimization of the pH of the miRNA poly-A tailing reactions revealed that pH 6-7 provides much better tailing efficiency than the pH 7.9 that is recommended in the literature (Sillero et al., 2001). miRNAs tailed with poly(A) polymerase at pH 6.5 provided as much as ten times more signal than the pH 7.9 that is described in the literature. Our final reaction buffer for miRNA labeling was: 10% Polyethylene glycol (MW 3,350), 10 mM MgCl₂, 250 mM NaCl, 50 mM MES pH 6.5, and 1 mM DTT.

Example 3 Labeling miRNAs: Two-Step Fluorescent miRNA Labeling

1. PolyA Polymerase Reaction

Isolated miRNA was resuspended in 4.0 μl, H2O. The following were added to the miRNA sample: 10 μL 2×Poly(A) Polymerase (PAP) Buffer (20% Polyethylene glycol (MW 3,350), 20 mM MgCl2, 500 mM NaCl, 100 mM MES pH 6.5, 2 mM DTT); 2.0 μL 25 mM MnCl2; 2.0 μL NTP mix (1 mM UTP, 5 mM aminoallyl-UTP); 2.0 μL PAP (2 U/μL) (Cat#2030G). The reaction mixture was incubated at 37° C. for 2 hours.

To begin the process of obtaining the tailed miRNA from the mixture, 10 μg of sheared yeast RNA and 80 μl, of miRNA binding buffer (0.6 M NaCl, 70% EtOH) were added to the reaction mix and incubated at RT for 5 minutes. The mix was subsequently applied to a glass fiber filter column, which was then spun at 5000 rpm for 1 min. 300 μL of miRNA Wash Buffer (0.5 M NaCl, 55% EtOH) was added, and the column spun again at 5000 rpm for 1 min. The Wash/spin step was repeated before the column was spun again at 10000 rpm for 1 min. 25 μL of ddH2O heated at 95° C. was added to the column, which was then incubated at 65° C. for 5 min. The column was spun at 10000 rpm for 1 minute and the eluted fraction was dried down and resuspended, typically in 4 or 7 μL.

2. Labeling Reaction

Amine-modified miRNA was reacted with amine-modified labeled moieties like NHS-ester Cy3, Cy5, AlexaFluor 555, AlexaFluor 647, and biotin. This was accomplished by the following procedure.

Amine-modified dye was resuspended in 8 μL dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Two samples were labeled per dye tube. The labeling reaction was set up by mixing 7 μL of RNA with 9 μL 0.2 M Sodium Bicarbonate pH 9.0 and 4 μL of the amine-reactive dye in DMSO. This reaction was incubated in the dark at RT for 1 hr. 4.5 μL of 4M Hydroxylamine was added, and the mixture was incubated in the dark at RT for 15 min.

To isolate the labeled miRNA, 80 μL of miRNA binding buffer was added to the mixture. This was incubated at RT for 5 min. This was then applied to a glass fiber filter column, which was spun at 5000 rpm for 1 min. 300 μL of miRNA Wash Buffer (0.5 M NaCl, 55% EtOH) was applied to the microfilter, which was spun at 5000 rpm for 1 min. The wash/spin step was repeated before spinning it again at 10,000 rpm for 1 min. 25 μL of 95° C. ddH₂O was incubated with the microfilter at 65° C. for 5 min. It was then spun at 10,000 rpm for 1 min.

Example 4 Labeling miRNAs: One-Step Fluorescent miRNA Labeling

The miRNA was resuspended in 4.0 μL H₂O. The reaction contained 10 μl 2×PAP Buffer (20% Polyethylene glycol (MW 3,350), 20 mM MgCl₂, 500 mM NaCl, 100 mM MES pH 6.5, 2 mM DTT); 2.0 μL 25 mM MnCl₂; 2.0 μL NTP mix (1 mM UTP, 5 mM Cy3 UTP); and, 2.0 μL PAP (2 U/μL) (Cat#2030G). The reaction mixture was incubated at 37° C. for 2 hrs. Then 10 μg sheared yeast RNA (Cat #7118) and 80 μL miRNA binding buffer were added, and the mixture was incubated at RT for 5 min. The mixture was applied to a microfilter (silica filter column), which was then spun at 5000 rpm for 1 min. 300 μL of miRNA Wash Buffer (0.5 M NaCl, 55% EtOH) was applied to the microfilter, which was spun at 5000 rpm for 1 min. The wash/spin step was repeated before spinning it again at 10,000 rpm for 1 min. 25 μL of 95° C. ddH₂O was incubated with the microfilter at 65° C. for 5 min. It was then spun at 10,000 rpm for 1 min. The eluted fraction was dried down and resuspended.

Example 5 Labeling miRNAs: One-Step miRNA Radiolabeling

The miRNA was resuspended in 4.0 μL H₂O. The reaction contained 10 μL 2×PAP Buffer (20% Polyethylene glycol (MW 3,350), 20 mM MgCl₂, 500 mM NaCl, 100 mM MES pH 6.5, 2 mM DTT); 2.0 μL 25 mM MnCl₂; 2.0 μL α-[³²P]-ATP mix; and, 2.0 μL PAP (2 U/μL) (Cat#2030G). The reaction mixture was incubated at 37° C. for 2 hrs. Then 10 μg sheared yeast RNA (Cat #7118) and 80 μL miRNA binding buffer were added, and the mixture was incubated at RT for 5 min. The mixture was applied to a microfilter (silica filter column), which was then spun at 5000 rpm for 1 min. 300 μL of miRNA Wash Buffer (0.5 M NaCl, 55% EtOH) was applied to the microfilter, which was spun at 5000 rpm for 1 min. The wash/spin step was repeated before spinning it again at 10,000 rpm for 1 min. 25 μL of 95° C. ddH₂O was incubated with the microfilter at 65° C. for 5 min. It was then spun at 10,000 rpm for 1 min. The eluted fraction was dried down and resuspended in 7 μL.

Example 6 miRNAs Probe Optimization

Various probe designs were tested in order to get the best level of detection from the labeled miRNAs. Amine modification, position of amine modification, and the benefits of extraneous nucleotides were factors that were examined. Based on hybridization with both chemically synthesized and endogenous miRNAs, it was determined that a linker having 21 nts resulted in the best signal, however, it was also concluded that the linker length can be decreased to 15 nts, if necessary, while still getting a comparable signal. The amine group required for slide attachment located at the 3′ end, rather than the 5′ end, gave better results, and the addition of 4 bps on each side of the miRNA probe sequence, which are complementary to the miRNA precursor, increased the signal in some miRNAs.

MicroRNA probes with 3′ and 5′ amines and linker lengths of 3-21 nucleotides between the terminal amine and the microRNA probe sequence were prepared. The probes were spotted on glass slides to create microarrays. miRNAs that had been 3′ end labeled using the procedure described above were hybridized to the microarrays. In general, the probes with longer linker lengths provided greater signal. The miRNA probes with 3′ amines performed much better than the equivalent probes with 5′ amines (FIG. 3).

The sequence of the linker between the terminal amine and the miRNA probe sequence was varied without impacting the hybridization signal. Five repeats of the sequence ACC were used at the 3′ end of the miRNA probes.

The performance of probes that had only the 19-24 nt predicted to be in the final mature miRNAs was compared to the performance of probes that included 4 nucleotides of flanking region from both sides of the miRNA coding region. The theory was that miRNA processing is not always precise and thus some miRNAs might include sequence from either side of the predicted mature sequence.

Example 7 miRNArray Protocol

A. Array Preparation

miRNA probes were prepared and spotted using a SpotBot (TeleChem) according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The arrays were then processed using the method described below.

Up to five slides were placed in a 50 ml slide washer. 40 mls of slide wash buffer (150 mM NaCl; 100 mM Tris pH 7.5; 0.1% Tween 20) were added, and the buffer and slides were mixed by inversion for 60 seconds. The first wash buffer was discarded. Another 40 mls of fresh slide buffer were added and inverted with the slides for 60 seconds before they were allowed to set without agitation for 5 minutes. The buffer was poured off and the slides were rinsed with de-ionized water. The water was poured off and another 40 mls of de-ionized water were added and mixed vigorously with the slides by inversion for 60 seconds. The wash process was repeated. The arrays were removed one at a time. They were then dried in either a microfuge or 50 ml conical. If they were dried by picofuge, up to 4 slides were included and the picofuge was spun for 10 seconds.

B. Hybridization

Hybridization Solution (3×SSC) was heated at 65° C. for 10 minutes and mixed thoroughly several times throughout the incubation. 35 μl of pre-warmed were added to the labeled miRNA and vortexed. The mixture was heated to 95° C. for 3 minutes in a heat temperature block. While the miRNA/Hybridization Solution mixture was being heated, 35 μl of Hybridization Solution was added to the top and bottom humidity reservoirs of the hybridization chamber and an additional 150 μl spread throughout the central span of the chamber. The array was placed in the chamber and precautions were taken to ensure the slide did not come into contact with the sides of the chamber. A coverslip was placed over the sub-arrays outlined by the etched regions. The 35 μl of heated miRNA mixture was added to the array and it was allowed to travel by capillary action to the other side of the coverslip. The hybridization chamber was sealed and the array incubated at 42° C. for 4-16 hours, but no longer than 16 hours.

C. Washing

The slides were removed from the hybridization chamber and submerged in 2×SSC/0.1 SDS to remove the coverslip. Once the cover slip was removed, the slides were moved up and down 10 times and immediately placed in 2×SSC buffer. They were washed for 2 minutes with gentle stirring (150-200 rpm) in a wash chamber. The slides were transferred to a new slide holder in a new container containing fresh 2×SSC and washed for 1 min with up and down motion. The holder was transferred to a new container with fresh buffer and washed for 1 additional minute. The slides were then dried using a centrifuge or picofuge.

Example 8 miRNArray Reproducibility

For any method that is used to compare the abundance of biomolecules like RNA in one sample to the biomolecules in another sample, it is critical that the process be highly reproducible. The reproducibility of the miRNArray system was tested by repeatedly comparing the miRNA profiles of human prostate and colon samples.

Total RNA from a single human prostate sample was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. Total RNA from a single human colon sample was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was split into six independent samples and each sample was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The six miRNA samples were fluorescently labeled with Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above.

The Cy3-labeled prostate miRNAs were split into six equal samples and each was mixed with one of the Cy5-labeled colon samples. The six independently labeled miRNA mixtures were hybridized to the miRNA probes arrayed on six different glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the tumor and NAT sample signals were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. The relative signal intensities for each element were compared between the prostate and colon samples. Signal ratios at each element are expressed as a log ratio and shown in FIG. 4. The average correlation between the six independent reactions was 98%, indicating that the miRNArray process is highly reproducible.

Example 9 miRNA Expression Normal Human Tissues

Molecular methods that distinguish the tissue origin of unknown samples are needed. An example is where a metastatic tumor has been found and its origin is unknown. Identifying the originating tissue allows a physician to identify other affected organs as well as create a therapeutic regimen with a higher likelihood of success.

Total RNA from 24 human tissues was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. Each of the total RNAs were fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs from each sample. One half of each sample was placed in a single tube to create a miRNA pool comprising the miRNAs from all 24 samples. The miRNAs from the pooled sample as well as each of the 24 single-tissue samples were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the signal from each single-tissue sample was compared to the signal from the pooled sample. The relative signal intensities of the single and pooled samples were compared for each miRNA. Shown in the table below is the list of miRNAs that were exclusively or primarily expressed in one or a few related tissues. The expression of these miRNAs could be used to determine the origin of a human tissues sample. Similarly, age, sex, race, etc might also be determined using miRNA profiling.

TABLE 4 miRNAs expressed exclusively/preferentially in specific human organs. miRNA Tissue where Over-Expressed miR-124 Brain miR-9 Brain miR-138 Brain miR-7 Brain, Adrenal Gland miR-128 Brain, Sk. Muscle miR-206 Sk. Muscle miR-1-2 Heart, Sk. Muscle miR-133 Heart, Sk. Muscle miR-134 Heart, Sk. Muscle miR-122 Liver miR152 Colon, Liver miR-215 Colon, Sm. Intestine, Ileum mu-miR-341 Ileum, Sm. Intestine, Prox. Colon miR-321 Colon, Sm. Intestine, Prostate miR-143 Prostate, Colon miR-145 Prostate, Colon miR-17 Colon, Stomach miR-24* Stomach miR-191 Placenta miR-224 Placenta miR 137 Placenta, Brain miR-98 Cervix, Uterus, Brain miR-130 Cervix, Uterus miR-99 Cervix, Uterus miR-195 Cervix, Uterus miR-26a Cervix, Uterus miR-320 Cervix, Uterus miR-28 Cervix, Uterus miR-142 Lymph Node miR-34 Lymph Node miR-216 Pancreas miR-217 Pancreas miR-30a Kidney, Placenta *indicates that a strand complementary to this miRNA has also been detected in cells.

Example 10 Confirmation of Array Results—Normal Samples

The ultimate test of array results is confirming microarray expression profiles with a second method of RNA quantification. A ribonuclease protection assay was used to compare the expression of three different miRNAs in 9 human tissue samples to the miRNArray data generated in the previous example.

Total RNA from human samples of adrenal gland, colon, kidney, liver, lung, skeletal muscle, pancreas, prostate, spleen, and thymus was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. Each of the total RNAs were analyzed using the procedure below to measure the expression of let-7, miR-16, and miR-200b.

Radiolabeled RNAs with sequences complementary to let-7, miR-16, and miR-200b were produced according to the miRNA Probe Labeling kit (Ambion). 104 cpm of each probe was mixed in separate tubes with 1 ug of each of the nine human tissue sample RNAs listed above. 5 μg of yeast RNA (Ambion) and hybridization buffer (40% formamide, 50 mM Na Citrate pH 6.4, 150 mM Na Acetate pH 6.4, 1 mM EDTA, 2.5% PEG 8000) were added to each sample. The samples were heated to 95° C. for three minutes and then incubated overnight at 42° C. To each sample, 150 μl of RNAse Digestion solution (300 mM Na Acetate pH 7.5, 10 mM HEPEs pH 7.5, 5 mM EDTA, 20 ug/ml Salmon Sperm DNA, 150 ug/ml Glyco Blue, 2.5 U/ml RNase A, and 100 U/ml RNase T1) was added. The resulting mixtures were incubated for 30 minutes at 37° C. 220 μl of RNAse Inactivation/Precipitation buffer (1 M Guanidinium Thiocyanate, 0.167% N-Lauryl Sarcosine, 10 mM DTT, 83% Isopropanol) was added to each sample. The samples were incubated at −20° C. for fifteen minutes. The sample tubes were centrifuged at 12,000 RPM for fifteen minutes. The pellets were washed with 70% ethanol, dried, and dissolved in gel loading buffer (95% formamide, 18 mM EDTA pH 8.0, 0.025% bromophenol blue, 0.025% xylene cyanol). The samples were heated to 95° C. and fractionated using a 15% denaturing polyacrylamide gel.

Radiolabeled probes that were hybridized to target miRNAs were protected from nuclease digestion and were seen as bands on autoradiographs that were exposed to the gels upon which the miRNA samples were fractionated. The intensities of the bands in the various samples correlates with the abundances of the miRNAs in the samples. As shown in FIG. 5, the Ribonuclease Protection Assay data mirror the miRNArray data for the same 9 samples that were generated in the experiment described in the previous example. This confirms that the miRNArray system is accurate in estimating the abundance of miRNAs in samples.

Example 11 miRNA Analysis of Lung Tumor Samples

In a one set of experiments tumor and normal adjacent tissue (NAT) samples were obtained from seven lung cancer patients. In a second set of experiments, tumor and NAT samples were evaluated from 16 additional lung cancer patients. The final data set comprise the first seven samples shown in the first table+16 additional samples.

Total RNA from these samples was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the tumor and NAT sample signals were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. The relative signal intensities for each element were compared between the tumor and NAT samples from each patient. Signal ratios of tumor:NAT for some of the miRNA elements are shown in FIG. 6. A table listing the miRNAs that were differentially expressed in at least four of the seven lung tumor/NAT samples from the first set of experiments is provided in Table 5A below. 16 additional lung cancer samples were analyzed using arrays. Those miRNAs that are significantly and reproducibly up- or down-regulated in the tumors relative to normal tissues from the combined 23 samples are shown in Table 5B. The miRNAs shown in Table 5B could be used to determine if a given sample were cancerous. These miRNAs represent potential targets for therapeutic development. Likewise, the genes that are regulated by these miRNAs might provide effective targets for therapeutic development. The miRNAs that are differentially expressed in only a subset of the samples likely represent molecular markers of the sub-classes of the cancer samples. These will likely prove to be valuable as prognostic indicators.

TABLE 5A miRNAs differentially expressed in lung tumor/NAT samples # of tumor samples # of tumor samples with >30% lower miRNA with >50% higher miRNA miRNA expression (out of 7 total) expression (out of 7 total) miR-145 7 miR-126 7 miR-331 7 miR-342 6 miR-143 5 Let-7 5 miR-30a 5 miR-16 5 miR-26a 5 miR-125a 5 miR-29b 5 2 miR-24 4 miR-328 4 mu-miR-201 4 miR-195 4 miR-22 4 miR-181a 4 miR-21 5 miR-200b 5 miR-321 1 5 miR-182* 5 miR-183 4 miR-17 4 miR-205 4 *indicates that a strand complementary to this miRNA has also been detected in cells.

TABLE 5B miRNAs differentially expressed in lung tumor/NAT samples % of tumor samples % of tumor samples with >30% lower miRNA with >50% higher miRNA miRNA expression expression miR-30A-as 93% miR-126 100%  miR-331 96% let-7a 75% let-7c 72% miR-95 87% miR-26a 65% miR-125a 68% Mu-miR-344 77% miR-21 87% miR-200b 81% miR-205 87%

Example 12 Confirmation of Array Results—Lung Tumor/NAT Samples

As with the normal tissue samples described above, a second method of RNA quantification was used to confirm that the miRNAs that were observed to be differentially expressed by the miRNArray process in the first set of experiments were indeed differentially expressed. Tumor/NAT samples from two of the lung cancer patients were analyzed for expression of miR-16, miR-21, miR-143, miR-145, and let-7. As was observed in the comparisons of the miRNA expression profiles in the normal samples, the quantitative data from the miRNArray system were very similar to the secondary analysis (FIG. 7). As above, this is validation of the miRNArray system. Furthermore, it shows that an alternative RNA analysis system could be used to analyze the expression of defined miRNAs in a clinical setting.

Example 13 miRNA Analysis of Colon Tumor Samples

Tumor and normal adjacent tissue (NAT) samples were obtained from six colon cancer patients in a first set of experiments. In a second set of experiments, tumor and NAT samples were evaluated from 18 additional colon cancer patients. Total RNA from these samples was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the tumor and NAT sample signals were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. The relative signal intensities for each element were compared between the tumor and NAT samples from each patient. Signal ratios of tumor:NAT for some of the miRNA elements are shown in FIG. 8. A table listing the miRNAs that were differentially expressed in at least four of the first six colon tumor/NAT samples from the first set of experiments is provided below in Table 6A Data from the combination of the first and second set of experiments is provided in Table 6B. Those miRNAs that are consistently seen to be down- or up-regulated in tumor samples could be used to determine if a given sample were cancerous. Likewise, these miRNAs represent potential targets for therapeutic development. Also, the genes that are regulated by these miRNAs might provide effective targets for therapeutic development. The miRNAs that are differentially expressed in only a subset of the samples likely represent molecular markers of the sub-classes of the cancer samples. These will likely prove to be valuable as prognostic indicators.

TABLE 6A miRNAs differentially expressed in colon tumor/NAT samples # of tumor samples # of tumor samples with >30% lower miRNA with >50% higher miRNA miRNA expression (out of 6 total) expression (out of 6 total) miR-145 6 miR-143 6 miR-133 5 miR-342 5 miR-125a 5 miR-195 5 miR-30a* 5 miR-10a 5 miR-130 5 miR-192 4 miR-194 4 miR-215 4 miR-144 4 miR-23 4 miR-26a 4 miR-126 4 miR-199a* 4 miR-21 1 5 miR-223 5 miR-224 4 miR-17 4 *indicates that a strand complementary to this miRNA has also been detected in cells.

TABLE 6B miRNAs differentially expressed in colon tumor/NAT samples % of tumor samples % of tumor samples with >30% lower miRNA with >50% higher miRNA miRNA expression expression miR-145 93% miR-143 93% miR-133 87% miR-125a 75% miR-130a 81% miR-135 79% miR-21 79% miR-200B 79% miR-203 83% miR-223 76% miR-106A 71% miR-31 67%

Example 14 miRNA Analysis of Various Tumor Samples

Tumor and normal adjacent tissue (NAT) samples were obtained from three breast cancer patients, two thyroid cancer patients, and one bladder cancer patient. Total RNA from these samples was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the tumor and NAT sample signals were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. The relative signal intensities for each element were compared between the tumor and NAT samples from each patient.

Interestingly, many of the miRNAs that were differentially expressed in the lung and colon tumor samples were likewise differentially expressed in the breast thyroid, and bladder samples. A heat map showing a subset of the differentially expressed miRNAs is shown in FIG. 9. Note that green squares represent miRNAs that are expressed at least 50% lower in the tumor than the normal adjacent tissue and red represents miRNAs that are expressed at least 50% higher in tumor than in normal adjacent tissues. A table listing the miRNAs that were differentially expressed in samples from each of cancer types is provided below. These miRNAs appear to be the functional equivalents of the known protein-expressing oncogenes and are likely involved in regulating cell proliferation and cell death as well as angiogenesis. These miRNAs represent potential targets for therapeutic development. Likewise, the genes that are regulated by these miRNAs might provide effective targets for therapeutic development.

TABLE 7 miRNAs differentially expressed in different tumor/NAT samples # of tumor samples # of tumor samples with >30% lower miRNA with >50% higher miRNA miRNA expression (out of 19 total) expression (out of 19 total) miR-145 18 miR-143 15 miR-126 16 miR-30a* 11 miR-125a 12 2 miR-21 1 15 miR-195 11 2 miR-321 4 9 miR-17 1 8 miR-182* 10 miR-183 11 *indicates that a strand complementary to this miRNA has also been detected in cells.

Example 15 Sample Variability

An assumption of many molecular diagnostic methods is that a tumor sample is relatively the same throughout the cancerous tissue. The validity of this assumption was tested by measuring the miRNA profiles of two isolates of a single thyroid tumor from one patient.

Total RNA from the two thyroid tumor and normal adjacent samples was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to the miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the tumor and NAT sample signals were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. The relative signal intensities for each element were compared between the isolates of the same tumor. Signal ratios at each element are expressed as a log ratio and shown in FIG. 10. The average correlation between the two isolates was 92%, indicating that there is little variation between different regions of the same sample.

Example 16 miRNA Profiling from Fixed Tissue Samples

Formaldehyde- and paraformaldehyde-fixed tissues represent a huge resource of clinically interesting samples. In clinical setting, most tumors and other disease tissues are fixed, analyzed, and stored indefinitely. Analyzing these historical samples provide scientists with the opportunity to match molecular characteristics of the fixed samples to clinical outcomes for the patients from which the samples derived. Although researchers have long recognized the benefits of performing RNA analysis on fixed tissues, the fixed tissues have not been used because it is essentially impossible to isolate high quality RNA from the samples. This is due to the fact that the fixatives introduce chemical moieties into the RNA molecules that make them incompatible with essentially all quantitative RNA techniques.

It was tested whether miRNAs could be extracted and analyzed from fixed tissues. Mouse kidney and brain samples were either fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for three weeks or frozen and stored at −80° C. for three weeks. Following the three week incubations, the fixed samples were processed using the Optimum™ kit (Ambion) according to manufacturer's recommendation. Total RNA was isolated from both the fixed and frozen samples using the glass fiber filter method described above. Each of the total RNAs was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs from each sample. The miRNAs from each sample were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the signal from each fixed sample was compared to the signal from its corresponding frozen sample. The relative signal intensities of the fixed and frozen samples were compared for each miRNA. The correlations between the fixed and frozen samples approached 99%, indicating that miRNAs can be used to analyze fixed tissues. A representative array profile for one of the sample comparisons is provided in FIG. 11.

Example 17 miRNA Profiling from Samples with Degraded RNA

Another problem that is encountered by researchers who are comparing the gene expression profiles of different samples is that RNA is fragile. Nucleases in tissues as well as those introduced by mishandling can degrade mRNAs and other interesting RNA molecules in samples. Most methods of RNA analysis are affected by RNA degradation making it essentially impossible to get reliable data when one or more RNA samples in the analysis are at least partially degraded. Given the surprising results with miRNAs in fixed tissues, it was decided to test the impact of RNA degradation in tissues on miRNA expression profiles.

A series of RNA samples was created with variable levels of degradation by harvesting the colon of a mouse and dividing the sample into two equal parts. RNA from one of the parts was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. This RNA represented the non-degraded control. The second part was sub-divided into five equal samples. The five samples were placed in phosphate-buffered saline and incubated for 0-120 minutes at room temperature. RNA was isolated from one of the five samples at 0, 5, 10, 20, and 120 minutes using the glass fiber filter method described above. Each of the total RNA samples was analyzed using the Bio-Analyzer (Agilent) according to the manufacturer's recommended protocol. Profiles of the various samples are shown in FIG. 11. Note that the non-degraded (noted as frozen) sample has two distinct bands corresponding to the 18S rRNAs and 28S rRNAs in the sample. The 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA bands disappear as the nucleases in the colon samples are allowed to degrade the RNA in the tissues during the room temperature incubation.

Each of the total RNAs was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs from each sample. The miRNAs from each sample were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the signal from each degraded sample was compared to the signal from the non-degraded sample. The relative signal intensities of the degraded and non-degraded samples were compared for each miRNA (FIG. 12). The correlations between the degraded and non-degraded samples approached 95% indicating that miRNAs can be used to analyze degraded RNA samples. The benefits to using miRNAs profiling to compare samples is that it reduces the stringency required for sample handing (this is especially important for clinical and field settings) and it allows many historical samples that were prepared poorly to be used for comparative analyses.

Example 18 miRNA Analysis of Blood Samples

Many diagnostic assays are designed to assay blood samples since blood is readily available and often representative of the health of the patient. To confirm that miRNA can be analyzed in blood samples, samples from ten different individuals were obtained. Total RNA from each of the samples was isolated by pouring whole blood into a 10 ml syringe attached to a LK4 leukocyte depletion filter (Pall) in a reusable syringe device. The blood was passed thru the LK4 filter over a time period of ˜75 sec. per sample. The filter device was then transferred to a 3 ml syringe containing 3 ml of Ambion's RNAlater®, which was passed thru the filter containing the captured WBCs, in a drop-wise fashion. The plunger was then retracted and residual drops of RNAlater® were expelled but the filters were left damp. The filters with treated WBCs were then removed from the devices and transferred to 15 ml conicals. Filters were stored at room temp. for approximately 1 hour before beginning the RNA extraction.

2.5 ml Lysis Solution. from RiboPure™ Blood kit (Ambion) and 0.25 ml of 2 M NaOAc was added to each 15 ml conical containing an LK4 filter with captured treated cells, and these were shaken vigorously for 30 sec. and then stored for 5 min. on ice. 2.5 ml acid phenol/ChCl₃ was added to each tube and contents mixed by vigorous shaking for 30 sec. Preps were centrifuged at 3,200 rpm for 10 min. in swinging bucket table-top centrifuge, then the aqueous phase was removed to a second 15 ml conical. 1.25 volumes of 100% ethanol was added to each prep (using calibration marks on the 15 ml tubes to determine volume of prep prior to adding EtOH) and contents mixed by vortexing. Preps were filtered thru silica filters in RiboPure™ Blood kit (Ambion) using vacuum suction, vacuum manifold. Silica filters were transferred to 2 ml microfuge tubes and washed by adding 0.75 ml of Wash 1 (1.6 M GuSCN/70% EtOH) and centrifuging briefly to pass the solution thru the filters. Silica filters were washed twice with 0.75 ml of Wash 2/3 from RiboPure Blood kit (Ambion) as above, then centrifuged for 1 min. at 13.2 K rpm to remove residual fluid. RNA was eluted by transferring the silica filters to fresh 2 ml collection tubes, adding 200 ul of nuclease-free water, heated to 78° C., to each silica filter, storing for 1 min. at room temp., then centrifuging for 1 min. at 13.2 K rpm. The miRNAs from each sample were isolated using standard gel purification as described above. The miRNAs from each sample were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon). The signal intensities of the various miRNAs were plotted. FIG. 13 provides miRNA profiles for three of the donors. The signals for many of the miRNAs are on par with what we observe for tissue samples, indicating that miRNAs are indeed present in blood samples and might be used for diagnostic assays. Interestingly, the miRNA profiles were very similar for the ten different donors, suggesting that there is a global norm for miRNAs in blood. This could make it easier to identify individuals who are sick given that minor miRNA perturbations would be seen against the relatively non-variable background of normal individuals.

Example 19 Oncogeneic miRNAs—Differential Expression and Cancer Regulation

As noted in previous examples, a number of miRNAs have been identified that are differentially expressed between tumor and normal adjacent tissue samples from the same cancer patients. Interestingly, there is significant overlap in the miRNAs that are differentially expressed between different cancers, suggesting there is a core set of miRNAs that influence cellular processes that when altered, lead to cancer. The following describes experiments aimed at developing a link between miRNA mis-regulation and cancer.

miRNA Expression in Lung Cancer

Twenty-two tumor and normal adjacent tissue (NAT) samples from lung cancer patients were analyzed using the miRNA array system described above. The arrays were analyzed and the relative expression of each miRNA was compared between the tumor and normal adjacent tissues from each patient. The various miRNAs were clustered based on their relative expression in tumors across different patients (FIG. 14). Six miRNAs (miR-126, 30a, 143, 145, 188, and 331) were expressed at significantly lower levels in the tumors of more than 70% of the patients. Three miRNAs (miR-21 and 200b) were expressed at significantly higher levels in the tumors of more than 70% of the patients. The differential expression of a number of these miRNAs was verified by Northern analysis (FIG. 15).

miRNA Expression in Colon Cancer

Twenty-five tumor and NAT samples from colon cancer patients were analyzed using our miRNA array process. Like the lung cancer comparisons, the various miRNAs were clustered based on their relative expression in tumors across the different colon cancer patients (FIG. 14). Five miRNAs (miR-143, 145, 195, 130a, and miR-331) were expressed at significantly lower levels in the tumors of more than 70% of the patients. Five miRNAs (miR-223, 31, 21, 17, and 106) were expressed at significantly higher levels in the tumors of more than 70% of the patients.

miRNAs as Cancer Markers

It is interesting that eight different miRNAs were differentially expressed between the tumor and normal adjacent samples for most of the lung and colon patient samples that we analyzed (FIG. 16). These same miRNAs were also found to be differentially expressed in the breast, thymus, bladder, pancreatic, and prostate cancer patients that we analyzed, suggesting that these miRNAs might control cellular processes that when altered lead to cancer.

miRNAs as Regulators of Oncogene Expression

To address whether specific miRNAs might be participating in cancer through the mis-regulation of oncogenes, we scanned the 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of 150 well-known oncogenes for sequences with significant homology to the miRNAs identified in our microarray analysis. Potential target sites were selected based on two criteria:

-   -   (1) Perfect complementarity between positions 2-9 of the miRNA         and the oncogene. This miRNA core sequence has been identified         as critical to the activities of miRNAs and the known miRNA         target sites have essentially 100% complementarity at this site         (Doench et al. 2004).     -   (2) Overall T_(m) of the miRNA/mRNA interaction. In addition to         the core sequence, overall binding stability between miRNAs and         mRNAs has been shown to be an important indicator of miRNA         activity (Doench et al., 2004).

As seen in Table 8, potential target sites in the 3′UTRs of known oncogenes were identified for all of the miRNAs that were observed to be routinely differentially expressed in tumor samples. Interestingly, KRAS2, MYCL1, and CBL have multiple predicted miRNA binding sites which could provide the cooperative miRNA binding that has been implicated as an important factor in miRNA regulation (Doench et al. 2003); Zeng et al., 2003). Many of the genes listed in Table 8 become oncogenic when they are over-expressed, thus it is conceivable that reduced expression of a miRNA could lead to up-regulation of one or more oncogenes and subsequently lead to oncogenesis.

TABLE 8 Cancer-related miRNAs and their putative oncogene targets miRNA Predicted Gene Target let-7 RAS let-7 C-MYC miR-21 mutS homolog 2 (MSH2) miR-21 v-ski sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (avian) (SKI) miR-143 breakpoint cluster region (BCR) miR-143 MCF.2 cell line derived transforming sequence (MCF2) miR-143 von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor (VHL) miR-143 v-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma 2 viral oncogene homolog (KRAS2) miR-143 v-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma 2 viral oncogene homolog (KRAS2) miR-143 Cas-Br-M (murine) ecotropic retroviral transforming sequence (CBL) miR-143 Cas-Br-M (murine) ecotropic retroviral transforming sequence (CBL) miR-145 v-myc myelocytomatosis viral related oncogene (MYCN) miR-145 fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) miR-145 Cas-Br-M (murine) ecotropic retroviral transforming sequence (CBL) miR-188 v-myc myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog 1 (MYCL1) miR-200b cadherin 13 (CDH13) miR-200b v-kit Hardy-Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KIT) miR-219 v-myc myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog 1 (MYCL1) miR-219 B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL2) miR-219 cadherin 1, type 1, E-cadherin (epithelial) (CDH1) miR-331 vav 1 oncogene (VAV1) miR-331 fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) miR-331 BCL2-antagonist/killer 1 (BAK1) miR-331 retinoic acid receptor, alpha (RARA) miR-331 v-src sarcoma (Schmidt-Ruppin A-2) viral oncogene homolog (SRC)

Example 20 Measuring the Effect of miRNAs on Oncogene Expression

Confirming miRNA target site predictions can be done in a variety of ways. In Drosophila and C. elegans, genetic approaches have been applied wherein mutations in the miRNA and the putative miRNA target site(s) are made and shown to result in similar phenotypes (Ha et al., 1996; Vella et al., 2004). In mammalian cells, where genetic approaches are far more difficult, reporter constructs have been used to show that the 3′ UTRs of putative target genes are regulated in cells at levels that are disproportionate to reporter vector controls that contain mutations in the putative miRNA binding sites (Lewis et al. 2003). In addition, vectors and oligonucleotides have been used to introduce or inhibit miRNAs in cells to determine the effects on endogenous levels of putative target genes (Lewis et al., 2003; Kiriakidou et al. 2004). The latter approach has been undertaken to validate the miRNA target site predictions.

Synthetic miRNAs and miRNA inhibitors have been developed that can be transfected into mammalian cells to either introduce miRNAs into cells or inhibit the activity of miRNAs in cells, respectively. See U.S. Ser. No. 60/627,171, and 60/649,634, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. A synthetic miRNA and a miRNA inhibitor corresponding to let-7 were used to determine if the target site predictions were correct. In these experiments, cultured cells that express undetectable levels of the miRNA were transfected with the synthetic miRNA using siPORT™ NeoFX™ Transfection Agent (Ambion). Immunofluorescence assays were used to RAS and C-MYC in the transfected cells. The proteins from both oncogenes were expressed at almost three-fold lower levels in cells transfected with the synthetic miRNA than cells transfected with a Negative Control miRNA (Ambion). In a reciprocal experiment, cells that naturally express high levels of the miRNA were transfected with the let-7 miRNA inhibitor. As expected, the proteins from both oncogenes were higher in cells transfected with the miRNA inhibitor than in cells transfected with the Negative Control inhibitor (Ambion). These results are consistent with the model that the miRNA regulates the expression of the two oncogenes. These data suggest that mis-regulation of a key miRNA could participate in cancer progression by failing to regulate the expression of one or more oncogenes.

Example 21 miRNAs in Lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; Lupus) is a chronic inflammatory auto-immune disease that ultimately leads to immune complex-mediated end-organ failure. It is characterized by an over activation of CD4+ T helper cells and repression of CD8+ T cytotoxic activity, leading to an overproduction of natural antibodies and pathogenic autoantibodies. Recently several histone modifications were reported in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from lupus patients. Diagnosis of lupus is still frequently incorrect mainly because the symptoms vary so widely and they come and go frequently, and because the disease mimics so many other disorders. Furthermore, diagnosis does not indicate the particular therapy to be used. In the absence of a cure, present-day treatment of lupus is still primarily tailored to symptomatic relief and not to the diagnosis. A diagnostic assay with high specificity and sensitivity would be very important.

Samples were analyzed from 16 individuals, 8 with clinically verified lupus and 8 non-lupus patients that were age- and gender-matched with the lupus patients. Total RNA from these samples was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the lupus and normal sample signals were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. Each array experiment included duplicate arrays.

Fourteen miRNAs were differentially expressed in all of the lupus samples relative to the matched samples. miR-301, miR-199, miR-95, miR-105, mu-miR-290, miR-215, miR-188, miR-186, miR-211, miR-331, and miR-137 were expressed at 50% or less in the lupus samples than the corresponding normal samples. miR-21, miR-223, and miR-342 were expressed at 50% or greater in the lupus samples than the corresponding normal samples. Several of the miRNAs were differentially expressed by as much as ten-fold between the lupus and normal samples. These miRNAs represent targets for diagnostic assay of therapeutic development.

In a further analysis of these samples, twenty-three miRNAs were differentially expressed (1.5 fold or greater) in at least 50% of the lupus samples relative to the matched samples. Among these miRNAs, miR-95, miR-144, miR-184 and miR-186 were differentially express in all the lupus samples. Together with let7D-AS, miR-21, miR-32, miR-133A, miR-137, miR-141, miR-181A, miR-188, miR-199, miR-201, miR-203, miR-204, miR-211, miR-212, miR-223, miR-224, mu-miR-329, miR-331 and miR-344, these miRNAs represent targets for diagnostic assay or therapeutic development.

Example 22 miRNAs and Prion Diseases

Novel infectious particles, termed prions, composed largely and perhaps solely of a single protein, are the likely causative agents of a group of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies that produce lethal decline of cognitive and motor function. Evidence indicates that the responsible protein arrives at a pathogenic state by misfolding from a normal form that has ubiquitous tissue distribution.

Using two cell-based prion model systems, the identification of miRNAs that might be associated with the process was pursued. One model system comprises two cell lines, one of which is susceptible to prion formation and one that is not. The second model system involves cells before and after they have been infected with prions. Total RNA from prion-sensitive cells, prion-insensitive cells, and prion-infected cells was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the signal from each of the samples was compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs.

As seen in FIG. 17, ten miRNAs were significantly up- or down-regulated in both prion-sensitive and prion-infected cells relative to prion resistant, uninfected cells. Arrays on multiple biological replicates for both model systems have confirmed these results. Based on their expression profiles, miR-95, 135A, 7, 9-as, 27A, 130A, 16, 26A, and 24 likely are involved directly or indirectly in prion infection and might represent diagnostic or therapeutic targets for prion disease.

Additional analyses revealed that about 40 miRNAs were found differentially expressed between cells sensitive and resistant to infection, and about 20 miRNAs were found differentially expressed during infection by prion. Ten miRNAs were significantly up- or down-regulated in both model systems. miR-7, miR-9-as, miR-16, miR-24, miR-26A, miR-27A, miR-130A and miR-239 are induced during infection and expressed at higher levels in cells sensitive to infection. These miRNAs might be involved in the mechanism of prion infection. miR-95 and miR-135A are repressed during infection and expressed at higher levels in cells not sensitive to infection, and therefore might confer some type of resistance to prion infection. Arrays on multiple biological replicates for both model systems have confirmed these results. Based on their expression profiles, miR-95, 135A, 7, 9-as, 27A, 239, 130A, 16, 26A, and 24 likely are involved directly or indirectly in prion infection and might represent diagnostic or therapeutic targets for prion disease.

Example 23 Stroke-Associated miRNAs

Stroke is a major cause of death and permanent disability in humans. They occur when blood flow to a region of the brain is obstructed and may result in death of brain tissue. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic stroke is caused by blockage in an artery that supplies blood to the brain, resulting in a deficiency in blood flow (ischemia). Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by the bleeding of ruptured blood vessels (hemorrhage) in the brain. Understanding miRNAs involved in stroke might enhance detection and/or treatment.

A stroke model system was used wherein mice are “preconditioned” by reducing oxygen flow to the brain (Kitagawa, 1991). An equivalent set of six mice were used; three were preconditioned and three were untreated. 24 hours after pre-conditioning, the mice were sacrificed. Total RNA from these samples was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the preconditioned and normal sample signals were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs.

Analysis of the miRNA profiles of the preconditioned animals (labeled P1, P2, and P4) revealed 10 miRNAs that were expressed at significantly different levels in all three pre-conditioned animals relative to the three non-treated animals (FIG. 18). These miRNAs resulted from ischemic pre-conditioning and represent potential targets for stroke diagnosis, prevention, or treatment.

Example 24 miRNA Analysis of Breast Tumor Samples

Tumor and normal adjacent tissue (NAT) samples were obtained from six breast cancer patients. Total RNA from these samples was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the tumor and NAT sample signals were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. The relative signal intensities for each element were compared between the tumor and NAT samples from each patient. A table listing the miRNAs that were differentially expressed in at least 80% of the breast tumor/NAT samples is provided in Table 9. Those miRNAs that are consistently seen to be down- or up-regulated in tumor samples could be used to deter mine if a given sample were cancerous. Likewise, these miRNAs represent potential targets for therapeutic development. Also, the genes that are regulated by these miRNAs might provide effective targets for therapeutic development. The miRNAs that are differentially expressed in only a subset of the samples likely represent molecular markers of the sub-classes of the cancer samples. These will likely prove to be valuable as prognostic indicators.

TABLE 9 miRNAs differentially expressed in breast tumor/NAT samples % of tumor samples % of tumor samples with >30% lower miRNA with >50% higher miRNA miRNA expression expression miR-145 87% miR-135A 100%  mu-miR-329 100%  miR-211 87% Mu-miR-298 87% miR-205 80% miR-21 100% miR-200B  83% miR-15A 100% miR-24  83%

Example 25 miRNA Analysis of Thyroid Tumor Samples

Tumor and normal adjacent tissue (NAT) samples were obtained from six thyroid cancer patients. Total RNA from these samples was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the tumor and NAT sample signals were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. The relative signal intensities for each element were compared between the tumor and NAT samples from each patient. A table listing the miRNAs that were differentially expressed in at least 80% of the thyroid tumor/NAT samples is provided in Table 10. Those miRNAs that are consistently seen to be down- or up-regulated in tumor samples could be used to determine if a given sample were cancerous. Likewise, these miRNAs represent potential targets for therapeutic development. Also, the genes that are regulated by these miRNAs might provide effective targets for therapeutic development. The miRNAs that are differentially expressed in only a subset of the samples likely represent molecular markers of the sub-classes of the cancer samples. These will likely prove to be valuable as prognostic indicators.

TABLE 10 miRNAs differentially expressed in thyroid tumor/NAT samples % of tumor samples % of tumor samples with >30% lower miRNA with >50% higher miRNA miRNA expression expression miR-31 83% miR-135A 100%  miR-331 83% miR-203 83% miR-152 83% miR-138 80% miR-199A-as 80% miR-30A-as 80% miR-21 80% miR-200B 100%  miR-15A 83%

Example 26 miRNA Analysis of Prostate Tumor Samples

Tumor and normal adjacent tissue (NAT) samples were obtained from prostate cancer patients. Total RNA from these samples was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the tumor and NAT sample signals were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. The relative signal intensities for each element were compared between the tumor and NAT samples from each patient. A table listing the miRNAs that were differentially expressed in the prostate tumor/NAT samples is provided in Table 11. Those miRNAs that are consistently seen to be down- or up-regulated in tumor samples could be used to determine if a given sample were cancerous. Likewise, these miRNAs represent potential targets for therapeutic development. Also, the genes that are regulated by these miRNAs might provide effective targets for therapeutic development. The miRNAs that are differentially expressed in only a subset of the samples likely represent molecular markers of the sub-classes of the cancer samples. These will likely prove to be valuable as prognostic indicators.

TABLE 11 miRNAs differentially expressed in prostate tumor/NAT samples tumor samples tumor samples with >30% lower miRNA with >50% higher miRNA miRNA expression? expression? miR-331 yes miR-188 yes Mu-miR-290 yes miR-29 yes miR-21 yes miR-141 yes miR-15A yes

Example 27 miRNA Analysis of Bladder Tumor Samples

Tumor and normal adjacent tissue (NAT) samples were obtained from bladder cancer patients. Total RNA from these samples was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the tumor and NAT sample signals were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. The relative signal intensities for each element were compared between the tumor and NAT samples from each patient. A table listing the miRNAs that were differentially expressed in the bladder tumor/NAT samples is provided in Table 12. Those miRNAs that are consistently seen to be down- or up-regulated in tumor samples could be used to determine if a given sample were cancerous. Likewise, these miRNAs represent potential targets for therapeutic development. Also, the genes that are regulated by these miRNAs might provide effective targets for therapeutic development. The miRNAs that are differentially expressed in only a subset of the samples likely represent molecular markers of the sub-classes of the cancer samples. These will likely prove to be valuable as prognostic indicators.

TABLE 12 miRNAs differentially expressed in bladder tumor/NAT samples tumor samples tumor samples with >30% lower miRNA with >50% higher miRNA miRNA expression? expression? miR-143 yes miR-145 yes miR-133 yes miR-200B yes miR-182 yes miR-21 yes miR-9as yes

Example 28 miRNAs in Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is also called regional ileitis; it is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory disease of the bowel. The symptoms are most commonly that of diarrhea and pain. Weight loss, fatigue, and irritability are characteristic of the disease. The bowel movements often include mucus, blood and pus because of the infection. Fat may occur in the bowel movements, making them bulky and foul smelling. The root cause of Crohn's disease is unknown and there are commercially available therapeutic options available for patients with the disease. Identifying the molecular cause of Crohn's could lead to enhanced diagnostics as well as therapeutics.

Intestinal tissue was recovered from Crohn's patients and normal individuals. Total RNA from these samples was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the Crohn's disease and normal sample signals were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. Each array experiment included duplicate arrays.

Seven miRNAs were differentially expressed in all of the Crohn's patient samples relative to the normal controls. miR-126 as, miR-194, miR-192, and mu-miR-207 were expressed at more than two-fold lower levels in the Crohn's patient intestinal samples while miR-150, miR-125B, and miR-223 were expressed at more than two-fold higher levels in Crohn's patients. These miRNAs represent targets for diagnostic assay or therapeutic development for Crohn's disease.

Example 29 miRNAs and Cervical Cancer

Cancer of the uterine cervix is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Epidemiological and molecular studies have demonstrated that human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the etiological agents of the majority (˜99%) of cervical cancers. More than a hundred of different HPV types have been characterized so far, and new types are regularly added to this list. Among the HPVs identified, about the third (46) infect the genital tract. These HPV types are sexually transmitted and can be further categorized into low-risk or high-risk groups according to the propensity for malignant progression of the lesions that they cause. The high-risk mucosal HPV types cause intraepithelial lesions that can progress to invasive carcinomas. Although routine cytology screening and reflexive HPV testing has improved cervical cancer detection and reduced mortality, significant problems and barriers remain, including the low predictive value of current testing which leads to costly and invasive testing and emotional stress in patients.

To identify host human miRNAs signatures in patients carrying high-risk HPV type(s), total RNA from HPV negative or high-risk HPV positive liquid-based cervical Pap smears was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the signal from each of the samples was compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. Four miRNAs were consistently expressed at levels at least 1.5 fold higher in the high-risk HPV positive patients relative to the HPV negative controls. Based on their expression profiles, miR-29B, miR-326, miR-361 and miR-425 likely are involved directly or indirectly in viral infection and/or cervical cancer onset, and might represent diagnostic or therapeutic targets for cervical cancer.

Example 30 miRNA Analysis of Leukemia Samples

Leukemia is cancer of T-cells. The two most prevalent forms of leukemia are acute myelogenous leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Acute myelogenous leukemia is a rapidly progressing disease that affects mostly cells that are unformed or primitive (not yet fully developed or differentiated). These immature cells cannot carry out their normal functions. Chronic leukemia progresses slowly and permits the growth of greater numbers of more developed cells. In general, these more mature cells can carry out some of their normal functions. To understand how miRNAs are affected by leukemia or might be contributing to leukemia, samples from leukemia patients were compared to samples from normal individuals.

Total RNA from white blood cells of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and no disease was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the tumor and NAT sample signals were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. The relative signal intensities for each element were compared between the leukemia and normal samples from each patient.

The following miRNAs were expressed at lower levels in all of the AML samples than the corresponding normal samples: miR-425, miR-361, miR-25, and mu-miR-291-5P. The following miRNAs were expressed at higher levels in all of the AML samples than the corresponding normal samples: miR-126, miR-126-AS, miR-222, miR-221, and miR-181B. Those miRNAs that are consistently seen to be down- or up-regulated in AML patients could be used to diagnose patients. Likewise, these miRNAs represent potential targets for therapeutic development. Likewise, the genes that are regulated by these miRNAs might provide effective targets for therapeutic development.

The following miRNAs were expressed at lower levels in all of the CLL samples than the corresponding normal samples: miR-361, miR-425, and mu-miR-341. The following miRNAs were expressed at higher levels in all of the CLL samples than the corresponding normal samples: miR-92, miR-99B, miR-23A, miR-23B, miR-223, miR-26A, miR-221, miR-222, miR-21, miR-20, mIR-181A, miR-181B, miR-16, miR-15, miR-106A, let-7, and miR-103. Those miRNAs that are consistently seen to be down- or up-regulated in CLL patients could be used to diagnose patients. Likewise, these miRNAs represent potential targets for therapeutic development. Likewise, the genes that are regulated by these miRNAs might provide effective targets for therapeutic development.

Example 31 miRNA Analysis of Alzheimer's Samples

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. As Alzheimer's progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspiciousness or agitation, as well as delusions or hallucinations.

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's and positive diagnosis of the disease can only be achieved post-mortem by analyzing the patient brain for two abnormal microscopic structures called “plaques” and “tangles.” Amyloid plaques are clumps of protein that accumulate outside the brain's nerve cells. Tangles are twisted strands of another protein that form inside cells. Understanding the molecular basis of Alzheimer's will be critical to the development of effective drugs and diagnostic assays. We analyze the miRAN expression profiles of the brains of Alzheimer's patients to identify those miRNAs that are differentially expressed.

Alzheimer's and normal amygdala tissue samples were obtained from eight individuals. Total RNA from these samples was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The amygdala miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the signals from the Alzheimer's and normal amygdale samples were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. The relative signal intensities for each element were compared between the tumor and NAT samples from each patient. The following miRNAs were down-regulated in all of the Alzheimer samples than corresponding normal samples: miR-425, mu-miR-291-5P, miR-204, and miR-338. The following miRNAs were up-regulated in all of the Alzheimer samples than corresponding normal samples: miR-145, miR-16, miR-223, miR-126, let-7F2, and miR-143. Those miRNAs that are consistently seen to be down- or up-regulated in Alzheimer's samples could be used to diagnose Alzheimer's patients. Likewise, these miRNAs represent potential targets for therapeutic development. The genes that are regulated by these miRNAs might provide effective targets for therapeutic development.

Example 32 miRNA Analysis of Alzheimer's Mouse Model

Although Alzheimer Disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, there is currently no molecular test for AD, and definitive diagnosis can only be made by post-mortem histological examination to identify extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibillary tangles in human brain sections. Promising new therapies offer the prospect of better management of AD provided methods for definitive diagnosis can be developed. Both early and late-onset human AD have been linked to specific haplotypes of the sequence encoding the ApoE apolipoprotein transporter. Apo E mice (JAX strain 02052) serve as an animal model for human Alzheimer Disease (1,2,3). These mice are homozygous for the Apoe^(tm/Unc) knockout mutation in the apolipoprotein E gene, which leads to defects in lipid transport, defects in cholesterol metabolism, and xanthomatous lesions in the brain. These mice also show altered responses to stress, impaired learning and memory, and synaptic damage. In order to identify biomarkers associated with AD, we carried out global expression profiling of mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) transcripts in brain regions of ApoE and control mice using a novel microarray system developed at Ambion, followed by qRT-PCR assays to validate differentially expressed miRNAs. These studies resulted in identification of a miRNA, miR-182, that is differentially expressed in specific brain regions of the ApoE compared to control mice. The miR-182 molecule was dysregulated in all the brain regions tested (cortex, hypothalamus, cerebellum, and hippocampus), with the most dramatic difference being ˜10-fold down-regulation in cortex of the AD mouse (as determined by qRT-PCR). Computational analysis was used to identify candidate mRNA targets, and the relevant gene product levels were assessed in AD mice. These efforts may lead to discovery of new RNA-based biomarkers useful for diagnosis and treatment of AD.

Example 33 miRNA Analysis of Multiple Sclerosis Brain Samples

Total RNA from the brains of patients with multiple sclerosis along with normal brains was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the signals from the Multiple Sclerosis and normal samples were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. The following miRNAs were expressed at higher levels in each of the multiple sclerosis brain samples: miR-370, miR-30A, miR-132, mu-miR-298, miR-422A, miR-31, and miR-155. The following miRNAs were expressed at lower levels in each of the multiple sclerosis brain samples: mu-miR-322, miR-326, miR-328, miR-9 as, miR-137, miR-126, miR-21, miR-181B, and miR-218. Those miRNAs that are consistently seen to be down- or up-regulated in multiple sclerosis samples could be used to determine if a person has multiple sclerosis. Likewise, these miRNAs represent potential targets for therapeutic development. Also, the genes that are regulated by these miRNAs might provide effective targets for therapeutic development.

Example 34 miRNAs Associated with T-Cell Development

T-cells are the primary component of both leukemia and lymphoma, as well as HIV infection. Understanding these diseases requires understanding the molecular components of T-cells. A significant amount is already known about T-cell development. T cell development occurs in the thymus; the thymic microenvironment directs differentiation as well as positive and negative selection. Lymphoid progenitors which have developed from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow migrate to the thymus to complete their antigen-independent maturation into functional T cells. In the thymus, T cells develop their specific T cell markers, including TCR, CD3, CD4 or CD8, and CD2. When progenitor cells begin to express CD2 but have not yet rearranged their TCR genes (CD2⁺ CD3⁻), they are double negative for CD4 and CD8 (CD4⁻ CD8⁻), the markers for Th and Tc lineages. Of the double negative cells in the thymus, about 20% have rearranged gd TCR, about 20% have very homogenous ab TCR, and 60% are committed to becoming the majority of mature ab T cells. These cells next express the adhesion molecule CD44, then the alpha chain of the IL-2 receptor (CD25). CD44^(low) CD25⁺ double negative T cells rearrange TCR beta chain. beta chain rearrangement begins with D-J joining, followed by V-DJ joining. The chances of successful b chain rearrangement are increased by the presence of two DJCb gene clusters. If rearrangement in the first cluster fails, rearrangement in the second can occur

Productive rearrangement of beta chain is followed by its expression on the T cell membrane with CD3 and surrogate a chain, pTa (analogous to 15 in B cells). Signaling through the preT receptor causes the cells to stop rearranging b chain, undergo a period of proliferation, and begin to express both CD4 and CD8, becoming double positive T cells.

Using a mouse model of T-cell development, we compared double positive T-cells to more mature, CD4+ cells. Total RNA from double positive and CD4+ T-cells was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNA was fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the signals were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. The relative signal intensities for each element were compared between the double positive and CD4+ samples. miRNAs that are expressed at more than two-fold higher levels in the more mature, CD4+ cells are miR-181A, miR-16, miR-15B, miR-128A, miR-17-5P, let-7A, let-7C, and miR-106. One miRNA was expressed at more than two-fold lower levels in the more mature CD4+ cells: miR-326.

Example 35 miRNAs Associated with Cardiac Hypertrophy

Patients with chronic heart failure develop an enlargement of the heart called cardiac hypertrophy. The causes and effects of cardiac hypertrophy have been extensively documented, but the underlying molecular mechanisms that link the molecular signals to cell changes, or cardiac signaling pathways, remain poorly understood. miRNAs that induce cardiac hypertrophy would supply targets for diagnostic or therapeutic intervention.

The miRNA expression profiles of two different hypertrophic mouse models was examined. The first mouse model was a knockout that eliminated the Gq-coupled receptor-signaling pathway, which has been implicated in the cardiac hypertrophic response to stress. The second mouse model was a double knockout that eliminated both the Gq-coupled receptor signaling pathway and the STE20 HGK pathway, both of which have been implicated in cardiac hypertrophy.

Total RNA from the hearts of Gq and Gq/HGK transgenics as well as normal mouse hearts was isolated using the glass fiber filter method described above. The total RNAs were fractionated by tube electrophoresis to recover the miRNAs. The miRNAs were fluorescently labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 using the two-step fluorescent labeling process described above. The labeled miRNAs were hybridized to miRNA probes arrayed on glass slides as described above. The signal from the hybridized miRNAs was quantified using a GenePix 4000B Scanner (Axon) and the signals were compared to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. The relative signal intensities for each element were compared between the transgenic mouse samples and the normal heart samples. miRNAs that are expressed at more than two-fold lower levels in the Gq transgenic hearts are miR-23B, miR-326, miR-126, miR-133A, miR-23A, and miR-99B. Interestingly, only miR-326 was also down-regulated in the Gq/HGK transgenic mice.

Example 36 Electrophoretic Purification System

The previous examples involved purification of miRNA using a micro-electrophoresis system that contains small electrode buffer chambers with a small volume of separating gel matrix (each less than 0.5 ml). This purification relies on the fact that all desired species are at the small end of the size spectrum. This allows the collection of the sample simply by the removal of all lower electrode buffer after these species have migrated completely through the gel matrix. Species can be concentrated either by alcohol precipitation or immobilization on glass fiber filters in high alcohol concentrations (covered in Ambion Patent App). Although this is similar to passing the sample through a filter with pores of a particulae nm size, it is distinguishable in that the driving force is electrophoretic movement of the species rather than passage of the carrier fluid under atmospheric or centrifugal pressure. Also, since the total thickness of the separation matrix being passed through is substantially greater (˜150 vs. <1 mm), the separation is much more efficient. The system can also be used to make successive collections by removing and replenishing the lower electrode buffer.

To accomplish this, the sample was mixed with an equal volume of denaturing solution containing 95% formamide to a volume of up to 100 μl and applied under the upper electrode buffer (250 μl) to the top of the separating gel matrix. The gel was a polyacrylamide matrix in a urea solution. The use of denaturing conditions ensured both that the small RNAs were separated from any hybrids they form, and that their migration rates reflected their size rather than their structure. The gel buffers were a standard Tris-Borate-EDTA system. By using a 10% polyacrylamide (9.33% monomer:0.67% methylene bis-acrylamide) gel matrix, xylene cyanol dye can be used to track the position of RNA chains of about 40 nt, so that standard procedure is to stop the gel as the dye begins to emerge. The samples were run at 60-80 V, drawing a current of ˜3 mA, for 12-15 min. The entire contents of the lower electrode chamber (250 μl) were then collected and the RNA species purified from it using either precipitation in 80% ethanol or capture on glass fiber filters in the presence of 75% ethanol, 0.5 M guanidinium thiocyanate, 3.75 mM CaCl2, 16 mM NaAcetate, pH 4.0. After ethanolic washes, the sample were eluted in water at a temperature of >65° C.

All of the compositions and methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and methods, and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the methods, described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the invention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain agents that are both chemically and physiologically related may be substituted for the agents described herein while the same or similar results would be achieved. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

REFERENCES

The following references are specifically incorporated herein by reference.

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What is claimed is:
 1. A method for evaluating a thyroid sample in a patient comprising: a) measuring the expression level of miR-21 in the sample; b) comparing the expression level to the expression level of the same miRNAs in a noncancerous thyroid sample; and, c) identifying the patient as having a marker for thyroid cancer if the sample is determined to have increased expression of miR-21.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample is determined to have increased expression of miR-21.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample is determined not to have increased expression of miR-21 and further comprising identifying the patient as not having increased expression of miR-21.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining the sample from the patient.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the noncancerous sample is a benign thyroid sample.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring the expression level of miR-222.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sample is determined to have increased expression of miR-222.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring the expression level of one or more of the following miRNAs: miR-10a, miR-15A, miR-22, miR-24, miR-29b, miR-30a, miR-30A-as, miR-31, miR-125, miR-126, miR-135A, miR-138, miR-145, miR-152, miR-183, miR-197, miR-199a, miR-199A-as, miR-200b, miR-203, miR-221, miR-223, miR-224, or miR-331.
 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising measuring the expression level of one or more of the following miRNAs: miR-10a, miR-15A, miR-22, miR-24, miR-29b, miR-30a, miR-30A-as, miR-31, miR-125, miR-126, miR-135A, miR-138, miR-145, miR-152, miR-183, miR-197, miR-199a, miR-199A-as, miR-200b, miR-203, miR-221, miR-223, miR-224, or miR-331.
 10. A method for evaluating a thyroid sample in a patient comprising: a) measuring an increased expression level of miR-21 in the sample compared to the expression level of miR-21 in a noncancerous thyroid sample; and, b) identifying the patient as having a marker for thyroid cancer.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising measuring the expression level of miR-222 in the sample.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sample is determined to have increased expression of miR-222.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the noncancerous thyroid sample comprises benign cells.
 14. The method of claim 10, further comprising obtaining the sample from the thyroid of the patient.
 15. The method of claim 10, further comprising measuring the expression level of one or more of the following miRNAs: miR-10a, miR-15A, miR-22, miR-24, miR-29b, miR-30a, miR-30A-as, miR-31, miR-125, miR-126, miR-135A, miR-138, miR-145, miR-152, miR-183, miR-197, miR-199a, miR-199A-as, miR-200b, miR-203, miR-221, miR-223, miR-224, or miR-331.
 16. The method of claim 11, further comprising measuring the expression level of one or more of the following miRNAs: miR-10a, miR-15A, miR-22, miR-24, miR-29b, miR-30a, miR-30A-as, miR-31, miR-125, miR-126, miR-135A, miR-138, miR-145, miR-152, miR-183, miR-197, miR-199a, miR-199A-as, miR-200b, miR-203, miR-221, miR-223, miR-224, or miR-331. 